BCC helps launch new ‘Health for Work Adviceline’ for small businesses
01/07/10 | 11:53
For the UK’s millions of small and medium-sized businesses, the impact of employee absence through illness can be huge.
That’s why the free ‘Health for Work Adviceline’ has been created by the NHS. The adviceline provides small business owners and managers with the expert advice and support they need to help team members being affected by ill health.
Many managers will have experienced how the health of an individual impacts on their performance. Millions of working days are lost each year because of problems like back pain, while work-related mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression are increasing. It is now more important than ever for employers to:
• Find the advice they need today to support an employee experiencing ill health
• Develop a plan to effectively and sympathetically deal with employee sickness absence
• Establish how to deal with similar problems in the future, should they occur
• Think differently about your business and how to make it a healthy workplace
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), commented:
“The impact of employee ill health on small and medium-sized companies is an important issue. While most firms offer some level of support, it is essential that more are able to provide effective help to staff, not least through ready access to good occupational health advice.
“The free ‘Health for Work Adviceline’ will help businesses to address issues of employee health, and it should lead to reduced absenteeism.”
The Adviceline can be contacted on 0800 077 8844 or at www.health4work.nhs.uk.
Ends
For more information, please contact Luke Flinders on 02476 472592.
Notes to editors
British Chambers of Commerce: 150 years of helping business | 1860-2010
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the Ultimate Business Network.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce, serving over 100,000 businesses across the UK, which employ over five million people. For more information visit: www.britishchambers.org.uk