According to the NHS, around 7 million people in the UK are affected by cardiovascular disease, a term for all illnesses of the heart and circulatory system. Inevitably, heart disease has a significant negative impact on employers, primarily through reduced productivity, increased absenteeism and the costs that come with managing this.
We believe that employers have a valuable opportunity to aid prevention by awareness of better heart health. And for those employees who have or develop heart conditions, the appropriate support should be available. That’s why this article is in two parts – prevention and support.
But first, let’s look at some of the heart conditions that affect the UK workforce – and the impact they can have on employers.
Common heart conditions
Heart conditions come in different forms, and at different stages in life. Some of us are born with congenital heart disease with as many as 1 in 100 affected. Others may develop heart disease through a number of contributory factors such as diet, lack of exercise, stress in life and at work.
The most common heart condition in the UK is coronary heart disease, which is also the most common cause of heart attacks. According to the British Heart Foundation, UK hospitals see an admission due to a heart attack every five minutes. Other common conditions impacting on heart health are angina, high blood pressure and strokes.
The impact on employers
While many people with heart conditions continue to work, others may need adjustments or changes to their roles. Those having experienced a heart attack or major surgery will need time off from work, and returning after illness requires careful management, for both employee and employer.
As well as the obvious impact such as immediate absence and adjustments for those returning to work, heart disease can affect employees’ mental health through anxiety and depression. What’s more, older employees with a heart condition may choose early retirement, taking their valuable skills out of the workplace. This creates additional costs in terms of recruitment and training.
It follows that those employers that understand the impact of heart disease and implement proactive prevention strategies are more likely to minimise the disruption and costs that heart conditions can bring to the workplace.
Prevention strategies
Employers therefore have an important role to play in raising awareness and preventing heart illness where at all possible. Here are some approaches you might consider:
Encourage activity: Desk work and driving are sedentary roles – and millions of us work this way. Encouraging taking breaks and moving around every 30 minutes or so is good for cardiovascular health. Meetings can be held walking outside, or even standing, and the Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme offers financial support to use a bike with the health benefits this brings. Just 10 minutes of exercise a day can have a positive impact – as we explain in our article ‘Finding Fitness – Top Tips For Keeping Active For Those Who Don’t Do Exercise’.
Manage workplace stress: Work itself, and the culture of your organisation may be more damaging than you think. Long working hours, lack of control over work, feelings of unfairness, bullying and job insecurity can all trigger stress responses leading to increased cortisol and adrenaline, which can negatively impact the cardiovascular system. How can you help create a less stressful workplace? You’ll find some of the answers in our blog ‘Reducing Stress Triggers And Creating Psychological Safety’.
Promote healthier eating: We all know that the on-site vending machine isn’t exactly the healthiest option with its high saturated fat and sugary food. So, why not replace it with healthier options such as fresh or dried fruit and unsalted nuts and granola bars – as we suggest in our article ‘A Healthier Approach To Processed Foods At Work’. You can also help your people with spaces where they can heat up their own food – and cut out those cakes served up in meetings – they were never that helpful to productivity anyway.
Create a supportive environment: Not everyone may feel comfortable disclosing a heart condition to an employer. Don’t risk your employee putting their own health at risk. A supportive and understanding work environment can help employees feel comfortable disclosing their health conditions and seeking necessary adjustments or support.
Support where a heart condition exists
As the NHS data shows, around 7 million people in the UK do have a heart condition so it’s highly likely there will be employees in your organisation who need your support in order to remain in work. So, how can you help them?
Empathy and understanding: The diagnosis of a heart condition brings emotional impact, and not just for the employee themselves. They may well be carrying the worries of their family, so being sensitive to their needs and how their diagnosis may affect them is very important. The way they work, and their attendance will probably change, time will be needed for medical appointments and flexible working. Every attempt should be made to work around this and help them, and team members, to adapt.
Communicate their benefits Poor communication along with reluctance to ask means that many employees often aren’t aware of the support available. They may miss out on assistance that could help them – such as counselling as part of an EAP or grants and other practical support.
Making necessary changes: Depending on how their heart condition affects them, their roles or aspects of them may need to change. For example, medication might make them slower, and this could mean a later start, or finishing earlier. Roles that are physically demanding or that involve driving may need to be reviewed and you will need to be aware of any pacemakers fitted as some equipment may affect them.
Talk to your occupational health support: You may need some help in supporting your employee – and that’s where occupational health can assist by providing assessments, recommending reasonable adjustments, and offering guidance on managing the heart condition at work. In addition, occupational health can help facilitate a safe and gradual return to work in a way that suits employee and employer.
In conclusion
Heart disease presents a significant challenge for employers, impacting productivity and the overall health of the workforce. By understanding the impact of heart disease and implementing proactive workplace prevention strategies and interventions, employers can help protect their employees’ wellbeing and keep valuable employees in work for longer.
Get our guide
We have produced a new Cordell Health podcast on heart health. This is available to subscribers to our wellbeing service. If you are not signed up to this service and would like to find out more, please contact us on wellbeing@cordellhealth.co.uk
Additional support
NHS: Information and advice on cardiovascular disease
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cardiovascular-disease/
The British Heart Foundation: Work and a heart condition
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
