Healthy workplaces for 'all ages‘ Jenny Lawson Enterprise Europe Network 18th October 2016

1. Healthy workplaces for 'all ages‘ Jenny Lawson Enterprise Europe Network 18th October 2016

2. Outline of the session • What are the issues & challenges? • Why have a campaign on “healthy workplaces for all ages”? • What’s planned?

3. What are the issues? • Europe’s workforce is ageing

4. What are the issues? • by 2030, workers aged 55–64 are expected to make up 30 % or more of the workforce in many European countries • retirement age is increasing in many Member States and many workers are likely to face longer working lives

5. What are the challenges? • longer working lives may result in longer exposure to risks • may be more workers with chronic health problems and specific needs • older workers might be more vulnerable to certain safety and health hazards • disability prevention, rehabilitation and return to work are more important • age discrimination needs to be dealt with

6. What are the benefits of doing something about it - employees? • Safer and healthier workplace • More positive working environment, encouraging employees of all ages to achieve their potential • Skills and experience valued • Less loss of earnings due to sickness / injury

7. What are the benefits of doing something about it - employers? • A healthier, more productive and motivated workforce, helping them to remain competitive and innovative • Valuable skills and work experience can be kept within an organisation • Sick leave and absenteeism should be lower, resulting in lower costs and better productivity • Staff turnover should be reduced

8. Promoting a sustainable working life Healthy Workplaces for All Ages

9. Why have a campaign? • To raise awareness of the importance of • good occupational safety and health (OSH) management throughout our working lives; and • the need to tailor work to individual abilities • To help employers and workers by providing information and tools for managing OSH in the context of an ageing workforce • To facilitate information exchange and good practice

10. Who’s involved? • Coordinated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) • Supported by a network of partners including: • National focal points (HSE) • Official campaign partners • Employer reps / trade unions • Media partners • Enterprise Europe Network etc

11. What’s happening / planned? • Campaign website (see www.healthy-workplaces.eu) and e-guide • Campaign materials including leaflets, DVDs, posters, newsletter etc • Healthy Workplaces Good Practice Awards • European Week & events

12. Example of good practice: Northumbrian Water • 30% of workforce over 50 • Sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders and stress cost £1m p.a. • 10 years ago began initiative to tackle the problem

13. Northumbrian Water Wellbeing Programme • Training for line managers to identify employee health issues and refer for help • Since 2008, “RehabWorks” has provided early intervention physiotherapy for employees • Since 2010 focus on stress reduction: training for managers / support for staff

14. Northumbrian Water Wellbeing Programme – the results • Musculoskeletal disorder-related sickness absence has reduced by 40 %  • Stress-related sickness absence has reduced by 13% • Better employee engagement

15. Getting involved in the Campaign: • Come along to a local event - watch this space! • Become a Campaign Partner

16. Campaign partnership offer • Benefits include: • a welcome pack • a partner certificate • promotion at EU level and in the media • networking opportunities and exchange of good practice with other campaign partners • invitation to EU-OSHA events

17. Contact for more information: Jenny Lawson Enterprise Europe Manager Tel: 0300 123 3144 e-mail: jenny.lawson@bradford.gov.uk