The success of an organisation depends on the health and wellbeing of your staff. If they are not healthy and secure, your business will suffer as a result – the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that, especially with all the pressure it has put on the NHS and hospitals around the world.
Employee health screening is a good step forward, giving them an in-depth health check that gives them clear results and allows you both to work with complete transparency. They encourage positive lifestyle changes, but can also test for things like coronavirus.
What is a Health Screening?
A health screening can be basic or detailed, and it is a simple medical assessment that aims to determine the overall health of your employees. They can be very affordable for a company, especially the basic screenings, and don’t take a great deal of time to complete.
Why Do Employees Need Health Screenings?
An employee health screening is a detailed check-up that provides a clear and detailed view of the health and wellbeing of your employees. These screenings will identify potential risks to their health and ensure that your staff are fit for work.
There are NHS checks available for those aged between 40 and 75 every five years in England, but it is possible for companies to create and provide their own. These can be basic checks or ones that are more detailed, and they often include, but are not limited to:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Height and weight
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Cholesterol
- Diabetes hydration percentage
- Body fat percentage
- Glucose
- Urine analysis
- Full biochemistry profile
- Liver and kidney function
- Nutrition
- Spinal assessment
- Lung function
- Breast examination
Being able to give your staff such an extensive screening means that they have peace of mind and a better understanding of their overall health. Employees that feel cared about are more likely to be productive and motivated in the workplace.
Is it a Legal Obligation?
There is no legal obligation for you to have employee health checks in your company. Therefore, if you decide not to include them there will be no legal repercussions. However, they are highly beneficial to you and your workers and so are recommended.
Not only can you offer individual support to employees through the screenings, but if you discover that there are common issues you have the opportunity to pursue a wellness programme that can benefit your staff and help them work through their issues.
Has Covid Changed Health Screenings?
Covid has definitely changed health screenings, and they have become more regular as a result. While the basic and full checks are not a frequent form of health screening, the following has been introduced as a daily screening in many cases:
- Temperature checks
- Health checkpoints
- Sanitiser stations
- Lateral flow tests
- Respiratory checks
To Conclude
Employee health screenings are definitely good for business. They give employees peace of mind and can encourage positive lifestyle changes. Employees that have the right support are able to be more productive, especially when they feel secure in their role. It takes the pressure off the NHS, and also helps keep tabs on potential Covid infections in the workplace.