At a forum in Dublin, Irish companies were advised that small adjustments can reduce the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs ) on employee attendance and make significant savings to both their business and the State. The calls were made at the Keeping Ireland Fit for Work forum hosted by Arthritis Ireland, with support from Abbott and FAS.
The meeting, attended by representatives from patient associations, employer groups as well as policy makers and healthcare professionals, is Ireland’s latest step in a pan-European Fit for Work strategy which aims to significantly reduce the seven million working days lost to MSDs in Ireland annually, at a cost of €750m to the Exchequer.
Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work in the UK said that: “As in the UK, Ireland has a ‘sick note’ culture which immediately excludes people from the workforce when they become incapacitated, offering no rehabilitation or opportunity to contribute. However, growing evidence demonstrates that working is good for long-term health and for the most part, people want to return to work. We must endeavour to give people this opportunity while always striving to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of working age people”, she said.
Arthritis Ireland is encouraging businesses to join the Fit for Work coalition and calling for cross departmental collaboration to introduce a National framework for Musculoskeltal Disorders. “By using innovation and creativity to make the workplace ‘fit for work’, the outcomes for workers with MSDs will include increased productivity, reduced sick leave and increased mental and physical wellness. In an era of cost cutting and belt tightening, this is one clear opportunity to save”, said CEO John Church.
Did you know?
MSDs are the most commonly reported cause of work related ill health in Ireland
The direct cost of MSDs at work in Ireland is estimated to be at least €750 million.
Ireland spends more per capita (40.9 per cent ) on sickness and healthcare benefits than 24 other countries featured in a Europe wide study.
714,000 people in Ireland have arthritis, with 25 per cent of all GP visits each year being attributable to arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions. Of these 40,000 people have rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis Ireland estimate that the annual cost of lost productive time due to RA and other forms of arthritis was €1.6 billion.
Over 44,000 people in Ireland have Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS ), a progressive and chronic rheumatic disorder that mainly affects the spine. Reported unemployment rates in workers with AS are three times higher than in the general population.
