How modern SMEs are radically improving workplace safety
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With people working longer than ever and the rise of the pandemic, employers are having to rethink how they operate their organisations in terms of safety. The costs of failing to protect employees are considerable, including legal action, lower productivity, higher absenteeism and sabotage. In general, people want to be safe.
So what are modern SMEs doing to make this happen? What does a modern corporate safety strategy look like?
Encouraging a work-life balance
The issue of work-life balance is so bad in countries like Japan, that the government has had to introduce laws to force employees to return home to their families at a certain time of day. But it seems that work-life balance is an issue at some firms in Britain too. There’s enormous pressure for employees to work harder and longer to keep pace with their colleagues and impress their managers.
Such working schedules, however, are arguably unsafe because they lead to stress. Employee burnout is a real issue and can lead to increases in healthcare costs and reductions in work quality.
Discourage fatigue work
On average, employees can usually sustain around eight hours of work every day. With a schedule like that, they can come into work every day refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead.
Working more than 12 hours per day, or more than 50 hours per week, however, can lead to fatigue and lead to problems with sleep schedules. Employees simply run out of time to perform all their duties, both domestic and work-related, and that squeezes the time available to recuperate, leading to a downward spiral which, again, can result in safety issues at work. Workers in charge of vehicles, for instance, should always receive encouragement to work safe hours.
Encouraging active workplace safety
Safety in the workplace can be a challenge. But if you encourage a proactive culture, you can often diminish safety issues before they become seriously problematic.
Working with partners such as fire alarm installers can help you enhance your fire response. And many cleaning companies are now offering COVID-19 deep clean services for enterprises that can’t operate work-from-home policies.
Implementing wellness programmes
Wellness is a challenge in a world like ours where we have the freedom to eat and exercise how we like. The greatest challenge for most people is avoiding the freely available and abundant vices in the environment.
Implementing a wellness programme can help to give employees the support they need to thrive in an unhealthy world. The programme could include things like healthy lunch options, exercise classes after work, or ways to manage stress.
Wellness programmes are now available from a large number of private companies that partner with your firm. Some managers see them as an employee perk or waste of money, but they can generate massive positive returns for you and your business.
The great thing about these programmes is that they help employees avoid feeling stuck. They’re able to continue their personal and professional development while fighting back against stagnation or overwhelm.
