Line managers are not expected to be rheumatologists, but as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were the leading cause of sickness absence and productivity loss in the UK last year, employers should be aware of the risks of MSDs for employees and potential solutions that could allow those with MSDs to remain in work.
According to Self-management of chronic musculoskeletal disorders and employment by The Work Foundation, employers need to accommodate the needs of employees with MSDs to avoid their condition worsening and preventing them from falling into unemployment.
The report looks at the self-management of chronic musculoskeletal disorders for those in employment and it found that individuals living with a musculoskeletal condition go to great lengths to personally ensure they are able to continue working.
Generally, employers do not ensure that these individuals truly benefit from the psychological, social and economic benefits that attending work offers, which would, in turn, make them happier, healthier and more productive.
The report’s findings present insights and challenges to today’s employers when it comes to managing employees with MSDs in particular, and chronic conditions more generally.
A number of employer recommendations were developed from interviews with individuals living with an MSD who were either in work or planned to return to work in the future. These interviews covered the history of their condition, as well as their working lives, and the role that they, and others, played in managing their condition at work.
You can read more on this article from Kate Summers on the Personnel Today website here
