Worker health 'affects staff retention'

Friday, 12 March 2010

Managers need to look at how they can support their staff's mental and physical health to protect

employee retention, according to an expert.A recent survey by insurer Simplyhealth found that around half of workers think their wellbeing has been ignored by their employer during the recession, while 47 per cent intend to find a new job when the economy starts to recover.

Commenting on the research, Dr Clare Kelliher, a reader in work and organisation at the Cranfield School of Management, admitted that employee health may not have been a priority for some companies, because they were preoccupied with the impact of the economic downturn.

She added: "However what they can do is be open with staff about how the future looks and also ensure that proper procedures are in place and that they are used and seen to be used."

Dr Kelliher also claimed that offering staff training about health issues and treating them with respect, which may include using employee recognition, can help to reduce problems such as stress in the workplace.

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