In the era of globalisation and digital transformation, large international enterprises face unprecedented challenges in managing their human capital. With workforces exceeding 1000 employees and operations in multiple countries, these organisations are discovering that preventive medicine in the workplace is not just a health initiative but a business strategy capable of tackling problems before they arise.
This proactive approach goes beyond routine medical check-ups; it is about creating a work environment that anticipates and mitigates risks to employees’ physical and mental health, from chronic stress to musculoskeletal disorders associated with long hours in front of a screen.
In this way, preventive medicine in the workplace has become a key strategy for the long-term success of these multinational corporations, especially in a post-pandemic context where health and well-being have taken on a new dimension.
This approach not only protects employees’ health but also acts as a catalyst for innovation and productivity. By proactively addressing psychosocial risks at work, enterprises are creating more resilient and adaptable work environments capable of facing the rapid changes of the global market.
Download our template on Psychosocial Risk Factors to prevent mental health problems at work. This will help you identify and efficiently address these risks, promoting your employees’ well-being and your enterprise’s productivity. Download the template now and improve your work environment!
Importance of preventive medicine at work
Preventive medicine in the workplace goes beyond simply complying with occupational health and safety regulations. It is about creating a work environment that actively promotes employees’ physical and mental health. This comprehensive approach benefits individual workers and has a positive impact on the organisation as a whole.
Studies find an average return of £5 for every £1 spent in health promotion programmes.These figures underline the economic importance of implementing preventive medicine strategies in the workplace.
Furthermore, when the war for talent is fiercer than ever, preventive medicine at work has become a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent. Thanks to the implementation of health and well-being programmes, enterprises have seen a significant reduction in the costs associated with absenteeism and presenteeism.
In addition to the economic benefits, these initiatives are fostering a corporate culture of care and mutual support, which is essential for maintaining highly motivated and committed teams in today’s competitive business environment.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Reduction in absenteeism | Reduces absences due to illness by promoting healthy habits and detecting health problems early. |
| Improved productivity levels | Healthier employees tend to be more efficient and productive in their daily tasks. |
| Reduction in presenteeism | Reduces the number of employees who attend work but do not perform at 100% due to health problems. |
| Savings in healthcare costs | Prevention is usually less expensive than treating already developed illnesses. |
| Improvement of the work environment | Fosters a more positive work environment and a culture of mutual care. |
| Increase in the retention of talent | Employees value and are more loyal to enterprises that care about their well-being. |
| Reduction of psychosocial risks | Helps to identify and mitigate stress factors and other risks to mental health. |
| Regulatory compliance | Ensures that the enterprise complies with occupational health and safety regulations. |
| Improvement of corporate reputation | Demonstrates the enterprise’s commitment to the well-being of its employees. |
| Early detection of illnesses | Allows intervention before health problems become chronic or serious. |
| Promotion of healthy habits | Promotes a healthier lifestyle among employees, which extends beyond work. |
| Increase in job satisfaction | Employees feel more valued and cared for, which increases their job satisfaction. |
Psychosocial risks and mental health: A comprehensive approach to reducing absenteeism and presenteeism
One of the most critical aspects of preventive medicine in the workplace is addressing employees’ psychosocial risks and mental health. Psychosocial risks at work, such as chronic stress, burnout, and anxiety, can significantly impact workers’ health and performance, leading to other consequences for the enterprise, such as absenteeism and presenteeism.
Work absenteeism is a problem that affects many organisations and can significantly impact productivity and costs. Preventive medicine offers practical strategies to reduce absenteeism, through strategies such as:
- Well-being solutions: Implement programmes that promote healthy habits, such as regular physical activity and a balanced diet.
- Regular medical check-ups: Offer regular health checks to detect health problems at an early stage.
- Vaccination: Provide vaccinations against common illnesses, such as flu, to reduce absences due to illness.
- Psychological support: Offer counselling and mental health support services, such as those provided by solutions like ifeel.
On the other hand, while absenteeism is easily observable, presenteeism — when employees attend work but are not fully productive due to physical or mental health problems — can be equally detrimental to organisations, affecting their productivity and performance margins. In this way, preventive medicine at work can help combat this phenomenon and reduce psychosocial risks by creating safe spaces by:
- Fostering a culture of well-being that encourages employees to look after their health.
- Providing resources for stress management and mental health.
- Implementing flexible working policies that enable employees to balance their work and personal lives better.
‘Ensuring professional well-being, and as far as possible personal well-being, is absolutely critical. For me, having a good balance in that sense is more than 50% of the job.’
Javier Sordo Gómez, Head of People at Thoughtworks, an ifeel partner company.
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As a leader, you can transform the workplace into an environment where health is a priority. Preventive medicine at work not only reduces absenteeism and improves general well-being, but also boosts productivity. Foster a culture of prevention by implementing health programmes, regular assessments and promoting healthy habits among employees.
By leading by example, you will demonstrate the value of looking after your health before problems arise. Make sure your team is aware of this benefit and actively participates. Become an advocate of preventive health and watch your organisation flourish.
Mental health at work, one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today
At ifeel, we know that as organisations continue to recognise the value of their employees’ health and well-being, preventive medicine in the workplace will continue to evolve and gain importance. Enterprises that take a proactive and holistic approach to employee health will not only see a reduction in absenteeism and presenteeism, but will also cultivate a more engaged, productive and resilient workforce.
To assist in this process, our clinical team provides leading companies in their sector with a dynamic, scalable and fully personalised solution, powered by AI. We have a strategy and approach based on key data to help organisations with a global presence address one of the biggest business challenges of our time: mental health at work.
This solution offers employees a mental health care service structured at different levels depending on their needs at any given time. Discover our Resources section where you will find different materials, such as webinars, podcasts, guides for human resources on current topics and interviews with leaders of large organisations.
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Data-driven methodology
Our mental health solution for enterprises employs evidence-based practices and innovative methods, backed by the latest research and a network of over 600 mental health professionals. Would you like to know more about our Clinical Research Department? Don’t forget to visit this section to stay informed about the latest studies and research in mental health in corporate environments.
We hope you found this article on preventive medicine in the wokrplace interesting.
If you would like more information about the ROI of our personalised mental health solution for enterprises, simply request it here and our team will make a calculation adapted to the specific characteristics of your enterprise.