What Would Happen If Santa Called In Sick On December 24th?

Free NHS Adviceline now available for small businesses

Everything is running smoothly, all deadlines are being met, then suddenly a key member of staff phones in sick. Along with the pressures of running a small business, managers are often thrown into the role of dealing with a range of complex health issues, such as coping with an employee who is off work for a long period of time with back pain, or someone who frequently takes days off sick, or trying to support a staff member who wants to keep working but has physical or mental ill health concerns.

The Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business is a free service that provides small business managers with the expert advice and support they need to help team members experiencing ill health.

NHS Plus runs the confidential Adviceline that will connect you with a health expert on all physical and mental ill-health issues. Rather than just directing staff to their GP, managers of small businesses can call 0800 0 77 88 44 for immediate advice. Adviceline are also familiar with the new Fit Note.

The Adviceline is a key part of Health, Work and Well-being, a Government-led initiative to improve the health and well-being of working age people in the UK. Health, Work and Well-being is sponsored by five Government partners: the Department for Work and Pensions; the Department of Health; the Health and Safety Executive; the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Working-age ill health and sickness absence (including stress and depression) costs the UK economy more than £100 billion each year. The worst performing businesses lose an average of 12 days per year for every employee.


For further info and to find out how much sickness absence could be costing your business, go to www.health4work.nhs.uk

30 November 2010