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| Bosses must make work happier and healthier, health chiefs say | Bosses must make work happier and healthier, health chiefs say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Managers across England must "raise their game" to create happy, healthy workplaces, England's chief health advisers have warned. | Managers across England must "raise their game" to create happy, healthy workplaces, England's chief health advisers have warned. |
| Guidelines from the health watchdog, NICE, urge employers to make sure their staff work reasonable hours and take regular breaks. | Guidelines from the health watchdog, NICE, urge employers to make sure their staff work reasonable hours and take regular breaks. |
| NICE says healthier workplaces will not only benefit staff, but also increase the productivity of businesses. | NICE says healthier workplaces will not only benefit staff, but also increase the productivity of businesses. |
| Figures indicate work-related illnesses cost society about £13bn a year. | Figures indicate work-related illnesses cost society about £13bn a year. |
| 'Lack of control' | 'Lack of control' |
| The estimates, for England, Scotland and Wales, suggest about 27 million working days were lost to illnesses, including stress and back pain, in 2012-13. | The estimates, for England, Scotland and Wales, suggest about 27 million working days were lost to illnesses, including stress and back pain, in 2012-13. |
| The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) guidelines, designed to address this, are intended for employers, managers and employees. | The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) guidelines, designed to address this, are intended for employers, managers and employees. |
| The document suggests bosses must take responsibility to ensure staff are appreciated for the work they do. | The document suggests bosses must take responsibility to ensure staff are appreciated for the work they do. |
| And employers should allow their workers opportunities to be more creative and explore new possibilities. | And employers should allow their workers opportunities to be more creative and explore new possibilities. |
| Managers are also urged to add flexibility to rotas where possible, so staff can have more control over their own time. | Managers are also urged to add flexibility to rotas where possible, so staff can have more control over their own time. |
| Prof Gillian Leng, NICE's deputy chief executive, said: "Employers and managers need to recognise the value and benefits of a healthy workplace and what a difference it can make, not only to their employees, but to the productivity of their business. | Prof Gillian Leng, NICE's deputy chief executive, said: "Employers and managers need to recognise the value and benefits of a healthy workplace and what a difference it can make, not only to their employees, but to the productivity of their business. |
| "Each year more than a million working people in the UK experience a work-related illness. | "Each year more than a million working people in the UK experience a work-related illness. |
| "It is not only the physical hazards of work - long, irregular hours, lack of activity or repetitive injuries - that damage people's health. | "It is not only the physical hazards of work - long, irregular hours, lack of activity or repetitive injuries - that damage people's health. |
| "Other factors such as a lack of control over work, conflicts, and discriminatory practices can also have an effect." | "Other factors such as a lack of control over work, conflicts, and discriminatory practices can also have an effect." |
| Responding to the guidelines, Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, said: "Health-promoting workplaces are obviously good for millions of employees and ultimately for taxpayers too, so the time is right for all employers - including the NHS - to raise our game." | |
| The Department of Health said it should not be hard for workplaces to put the new guidelines in place. | The Department of Health said it should not be hard for workplaces to put the new guidelines in place. |
| Meanwhile the Confederation of British Industry acknowledged the importance of employee wellbeing and said most businesses recognise this. | Meanwhile the Confederation of British Industry acknowledged the importance of employee wellbeing and said most businesses recognise this. |
| Neil Carberry, director for employment and skills at the confederation, suggested offices designed to deliver different working environments, or encourage flexible practices could help retain staff and enhance productivity. | Neil Carberry, director for employment and skills at the confederation, suggested offices designed to deliver different working environments, or encourage flexible practices could help retain staff and enhance productivity. |
| But the potential for flexible rotas and other measures would vary from company to company and decisions would need to be taken by individual companies, he said. | But the potential for flexible rotas and other measures would vary from company to company and decisions would need to be taken by individual companies, he said. |