Work together for health at work

The workplace can be an important part of the cure for employees suffering from common illnesses according to a new study for the cross-government initiative ëHealth Work Wellbeingí.

In a 2005/6 survey, more than 2 million employees claimed that their work had either caused an illness or made one worse. But the What works at work? report by the independent Institute for Employment Studies (IES) found that active partnerships between people and their workplace has real potential for improving common health problems such as back pain, anxiety and depression, heart disease and obesity.

Based on a review of existing studies and evidence of workplace interventions on health, the report found that health interventions which included some form of employer/employee partnership or consultation, demonstrated improved results compared to those which did not.

Research commissioned by the Health, Work and Wellbeing Executive, (now Work Health Wellbeing) an interdepartmental strategy group including representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Health, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.

For the full press release, contacts and links to a report summary and PDF of the full report, go to: