1. Cambridgeshire Business Action on Public Health Practitioner event Musculoskeletal issues in the workplace Debbie Longhurst Project Manager Business Action on Public Health

2. Transforming business transforming communities

3. East of England workplace pilot Business Action on Public Health aims to explore the workplace as a setting for improving public health by asking businesses across the East of England to actively support staff health and wellbeing and consider their influence on wider public health. This 3 year project is funded by the Department of Health and is managed by one of Prince’s charities Business in the Community (BITC). BITC are a business-led charity focused on promoting responsible business practice. The project is working with over 200 SME and larger organisations, who have a footprint in the East of England. The project works in partnership with the Public Health teams locally to support employers understanding of the local health inequalities and to identify suitable workplace solutions to support workplace health.

4. Methodology Employer Focus Groups Practitioner events Variety of speaker platforms Wellbeing strategy based around Public Health Responsibility Deal Wellbeing survey Case study Third party evaluation Employer led leadership team Public health consistent workplace offer Employer led offer Accredited training to ‘pump prime’ Workplace health champions- build capacity

5. Project Outcomes to date 200 + employer shave participate in the scheme to date 22 Practitioner events have been run to date with 239 delegates sharing good practice at these events, including some of the following themes: Mental wellbeing Capacity building through workplace champions Physical Wellbeing/Healthy eating/Alcohol in the workplace Business case for employee wellbeing-through the Public Health Responsibility Deal Employer lead tools are being developed including: Wellbeing survey, Health Engagement planner and a Route map to guide employers to wellbeing support Sharing good practice through 17 Case studies, webpage & Awards Public health consistent workplace offers - e.g. Luton ‘Pump primed’ free workplace offer including- Mental Health First Aid Lite and Workplace Health champions

6. The Business Case For employee wellbeing The issue of public health is an important one for business, as employee wellbeing has a clear effect on business performance. Employers pay £9 billion a year in sick pay and associated costs, plus the indirect costs of managing business while people are off sick ( Sickness Absence Review 2011, Dame Carol Black and David Frost CBE)A recent YouGov survey for the TUC found that one in three employees are not engaged in their work.Sickness Absence Review 2011 YouGov survey for the TUC An Individual's Health has consequences far beyond themselves- touching their families and children, workplaces and wider communities (Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, Dame Carol Black)

7. What does this mean to employers? Companies that take proactive steps to manage and promote employee wellness and engagement can improve their financial performance by as much as 10% (BITC-commissioned research by IPSOS Mori) Physically active employees take 27% fewer days off sick (Health Work & Wellbeing programme, 2008) Organisations with high levels of employee engagement outperform those with below average levels of employee engagement on measures of operating income, net income growth and earnings per share ( 2007 Towers Watson Global Workforce Survey)

8. Did you know..... Musculoskeletal problems and stress related conditions are now the most common reasons for absence from work. The costs of making reasonable adjustments to keep an employee who develops a health condition or disability will certainly be less than recruiting and training a new staff member. The UK population becoming obese increasing, which in turn will affect musculoskeletal issues, By 2015, the Foresight report estimates:32% adults will be obese, By 2025 it is estimated that: 42% of adults will be obese

9. Evaluation Please complete the feedback sheet We need to ensure you are getting the wellbeing support you need Thank you

10. Gives workplaces a platform for their wellbeing strategy and demonstrates to staff the impact their health has on the business’ bottom line. Signing up sends a strong public message about an employer’s commitment to taking action to improve the health of their employees, their business and the wider community. Public Health Responsibility Deal

11. H01. Chronic Conditions Guide H02. Occupational Health Standards H03. Health & Wellbeing Report H04. Healthier Staff Restaurants H05. Smoking Cessation/Respiratory Health H06. Staff Health Checks H07. Mental Health and Wellbeing H08. Young People in the Workplace H09. Domestic Violence H10. Construction and Civil Engineering Industries Health at work pledges

12. Our support http://www.bitc.org.uk/east/what-we- offer/business-action-public-health Debbie.longhurst@bitc.org.uk Thank you to all our speakers Especially Julie from Perkins for hosting