A healthy work–life balance is biggest health issue

Work–life balance is a bigger health issue to businesses than stress and mental health issues, reveals a new survey.

Research by Group Risk Development (GRiD), the trade body for the group risk industry, found that maintaining a good work–life balance for those remaining in the business ranked as the top health issue for more than one in five employers (21%). This is ahead of stress and mental health issues (19%) – currently cited as the most common cause for workplace absence.

The results suggest employers appreciate a long hours culture can be beneficial in the first instance but can lead to problems with morale and could further increase stress-related absence in the longer term.

Interestingly, 32% of employers suggest that their absence rate has improved over the last 12 months with 50% believing their absence rate is lower than the industry average.

More than one in three employers (38%) said taking steps to improve work–life balance was top priority. By comparison, 27% said actively managing workplace stress was their key goal.

Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD, commented:

“A strong work–life balance is often overlooked as a major health issue to businesses, compared to more direct factors such as dealing with chronic conditions. But, the economic situation seems to have provided a timely reminder for businesses to take action to rectify unsustainable working practice.

“In times of increased economic pressure it is particularly important for employers to consider the impact a long hours culture can have on the wellbeing of their employees and to develop strategies for dealing with the fall out such as, for example, increased stress related absence.”