With an ageing workforce and employees working for longer it is vital that organisations have good occupational health and safety provision in place, and that appropriate action is taken to support the wellbeing of all staff.
This section includes key points to consider, actions to take forward and links to useful information and resources.
Key points
- Older staff generally tend to have less frequent periods of sickness absence, but when they do get ill they tend to be off longer than average.
- A proactive occupational health department running health promotion activities has a vital role to play in keeping staff of all ages fit and healthy for work.
- Reasonable adjustments older staff may require to enable them to continue working (in the same way that such provisions are made for disabled employees) are often simple to implement and low in cost.
- Appropriate job re-design and work re-organisation can be important factors in ensuring the continued health and wellbeing of older workers.
- Be mindful of the cumulative impact of years of stress and heavy workloads, and the particular effects these can have on older workers.
- Likewise, ensuring younger workers’ health and wellbeing will help them later in their working life too.
Key actions
- Be open to discussing changing needs regularly with staff, including potential changes to work organisation/work patterns.
- Be aware of the range of support available within your organisation and make sure your staff are also aware and are encouraged to access it.
Useful information and resources
- NHS Scotland Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies (staffgovernance.scot.nhs.uk/partnership/partnership-information-network/pin-policies/)
- Health, safety and wellbeing partnership group (HSWPG)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance – Health and Safety for Workers(www.hse.gov.uk/vulnerable-workers/older-workers.htm)