No work or bad work: both can make you sick

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Media Release

No work or bad work: both can make you sick

Thursday, 24 October 2013

Government, employers and businesses must place a stronger emphasis on good work practices if they are to effect significant cultural change and workplace reform in New Zealand, according to occupational physicians from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

Occupational physicians from the RACP will address a national workplace stakeholder forum in Auckland later today where they will launch two position statements: What is Good Work? and Improving Workforce Health and Workplace Productivity

The position statements make recommendations for governments, insurers, businesses and worker advocates to enhance health and productivity in the workplace in New Zealand.

President of the New Zealand Association of Accredited Employers, Mr Carl Stent will also speak at the event.

Dr David Beaumont, President-Elect of the RACP’s Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM), said health must also be established as a fundamental principle on which to create and develop workplace culture.

“As occupational physicians, we deal daily with the cost and impact of poor organisational culture on the health of individuals, their families and their communities,” said Dr Beaumont.

“Positive and profitable workplaces are achieved through good treatment of employees, yet we regularly observe that this knowledge is not applied consistently in the workplace in New Zealand.

“While there is a broad consensus that good work is beneficial for people’s health, what is lacking is an understanding of what good work means.

“By focusing more on the health of workers from the outset rather than trying to fix poor workplace cultures after problems occur, a virtuous circle is created where workers are healthier, more engaged, and feel valued, adding to the positive culture and improving productivity.

“Gaining a better understanding of what constitutes good work will mean we’ll see a healthier workplace culture in New Zealand and health, social and economic benefits will flow from this.

“It will also result in our vulnerable populations such as Māori and the substantial volunteer workforce, engaging in good work.”

At today’s forum the RACP’s Dr Graeme Edwards will discuss the costs of poor workplace culture, the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying in New Zealand workplaces, and the benefits flowing from effective workplace cultural reform.

“In 2010 workplace injuries are estimated to have cost NZ$3.5 billion, almost 2 per cent of GDP.* “Workers who suffer from physical or mental health problems are more likely to have higher rates of absenteeism and reduced productivity when they do come to work, and the costs of workers’ poor health and engagement can multiply if unchecked.

“However employers have much to gain from actively engaging with their workers, particularly in relation to organisational factors that impact employees’ health and wellbeing,” Dr Edwards said.

“Organisations with strong organisational health profiles, that view health as an asset rather than a cost to an organisation, are twice as likely to achieve above median financial performance.**

“The research also shows that enhanced health and safety performance, and productivity gains of up to 200 per cent can be achieved with effective workplace cultural reform.”

ENDS

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