New 'Work Charter' Launched To Help 6.5m People With Musculoskeletal Conditions To Stay In Work, UK

Today the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), backed by leading policymakers and employers, is calling for positive action to ensure people with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are properly supported to access employment and remain in their jobs.



Launching a new Charter for Work, ARMA is calling on policymakers, employers, and healthcare professionals to make a commitment to decrease the number of people who fall out of the workplace as a result of ill-health:



- MSDs are the second biggest cause of work-limiting health problems and sickness absence in the UK, responsible for up to 10.8 million lost working days in 2008/09


- The cost of MSDs to society has been estimated at over ??7 billion at 2007 prices


- Persistent pain and stiffness that MSDs can cause have a major impact on quality of life and can result in more days off work



The Charter contains a set of cohesive actions developed in partnership with NHS Employers, The Royal College of Nursing and The Work Foundation.



ARMA director, Ros Meek said,



"ARMA seeks to build on the progress made following Dame Carol Black's Review 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow' - we want to capitalise on this work and drive positive action and behaviour change in our workplaces, local NHS and wider communities.



"We are urging all employers, both private and public sector, to show their commitment to the health of their workforce and adopt the Charter. By taking small steps they can help to transform the lives of people with MSDs and benefit their bottom line by retaining valuable skills."



The Charter outlines actions for policymakers, employers, healthcare professionals and patients themselves:



- Better flexible working arrangements and training of line managers


- The delivery of integrated services at a local level to ensure early diagnosis and treatment


- Ensuring an open dialogue between employers and employees to effectively manage a person's condition



Conservative Shadow Health Minister Anne Milton MP, commented:



"With musculoskeletal disorders affecting 6.5million people and costing society over ??7 billion a year, it is important that policymakers and employers take positive steps to ensure that those who can work are supported to do so. We need to rise to this challenge in order to help restore economic growth; and refocus on capacity rather than incapacity - which costs individuals and taxpayers dearly."



Karen Charman, Head of Employment Services at NHS Employers, said



"The NHS has been working for several years to reduce the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by improving the services available to affected staff and by encouraging better working practices with a view to eliminating the causes of these life altering conditions. NHS Employers are delighted to have been able to support ARMA in developing this Charter and hope that it will help all employers to understand and address the needs of affected employees."



Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN said:



"Nurses are often at a very high risk of developing musculoskeletal conditions, so it is vital that employers take preventative action and offer support where it is needed. This charter is useful for nurses in pushing for this commitment from employers, but it is also useful for those offering support to patients with such conditions, whose health and wellbeing can be improved by being able to stay in work".



Steve Bevan, Managing Director of The Work Foundation commented:



"The Work Foundation welcomes the launch of the Charter for Work and its objectives. Our research across Europe on MSDs shows that absence from work and lost productivity attributable to MSDs costs Europe over 240 billion Euros each year and that governments, clinicians and employers can do much more to help people with MSDs to stay in or return to work. For most people, good work is good for their health. We support any steps which allow people with long-term or chronic health conditions to play their full part in the labour market."



Source
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance