Sickness levels cut UK manufacturing performance

In a recent report, growing levels of sickness are being blamed for under-performance in manufacturing businesses throughout the UK and two out of thre managers do not report illness.

A report, called 'The Quality of Working Life' paints a stark picture of health in UK workplaces.

It reveals an increase in sickness at work, but with many manufacturing managers admitting they do not report ill-health, it suggests the problem goes much deeper.

Published by the Chartered Management Institute and Workplace Health Connect, key findings include: * Sickness soaring - 60% claim that illness levels have increased in the last year and two out of three managers in the manufacturing sector also claim they do not report illness.

* Lack of direction - nearly all organisations have general health and safety policies, but fewer (37%) offer training when it comes to dealing with occupational illness or managing absence, meaning that businesses in the manufacturing sector are failing to deal with employee health issues as they arise.

* A boost for business - the research shows that where health initiatives are used, there is a significant improvement in health.

However, less than half (42%) offer support for stress management and only one-third (38%) provide health screenings.

* In more detail - managers in the manufacturing sector feel the strain as ill health at work hits productivity - a surprisingly high proportion of manufacturing sector managers (55 per cent) admit to being unproductive for at least 20% of their working time, due to poor health.

According to research published by the Chartered Management Institute and Workplace Health Connect, sickness levels are increasing, but managers in the sector are unwilling to report their symptoms.

The report also shows that 32% of manufacturing sector managers have difficulty concentrating, due to ill-health.

However, it reveals that organisations in the sector are not doing enough to tackle workplace illness, resulting in a negative impact on employee well-being and performance.

The 'Quality of Working Life' report questioned 1,541 managers in the UK revealing a poor picture of health.

Key findings of the report were: * Ill-health plagues business - 60% claimed that illness rates in their organisation have increased over the past 12 months.

However, only one in three report symptoms to their line manager indicating a much deeper malaise.

* Health and safety rising up the agenda - the report revealed that 64% of manufacturing sector managers agreed that the senior management team in their organisation considered health and safety to be important.

Just over half (52%) suggested that the issues were becoming increasingly important.

This figure was mirrored for growing companies but was notably reduced amongst declining firms (36%).

* Lack of policy and training regarding workplace health - nearly all organisations in the sector have general health and safety policies in place, yet far fewer (60%) have policies on occupational illness or managing absence (70%).

Fewer still offer training in these two areas (37%, in both cases).

* Health initiatives boost business - where health initiatives and benefits are offered by organisations there is an increase in the physical and psychological health of employees.

However, while flexible working patterns (58%) have become relatively common, health screenings (38%) or stress management advice (42%) is less common.

Mary Chapman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: "The health of UK workplaces needs greater attention.

With such high levels of illness being experienced, organisations and individuals must act to maintain their competitive edge.

Failure to do so will lead to disruption because health clearly has an impact on performance, productivity and ultimately, the bottom line." Elizabeth Gyngell, programme director at Workplace Health Connect, said: "Ill-health in the workplace is having an adverse affect on UK business productivity, so reducing the incidence of illness or injury, caused or made worse by work, needs to become a priority.

Everyone needs to play a role in improving the quality of health in their workplace.

By working together, the right systems and procedures can be put in place that should benefit the entire workforce and the business itself." An executive summary of the report, called 'Quality of Working Life: managers' health and well-being' can be downloaded from www.managers.org.uk/researchreports.

Key recommendations from the report include: * Individuals should be more open in reporting health problems.

* Organisations should explore the value of investing in health initiatives.

* Employers should ensure that managers are effectively trained to deal with workplace health concerns.

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