In this time of skills shortage when people can pick and choose where they work easily, employee engagement has become the key to loyalty and staff longevity. Businesses are finding if they don’t reward and engage with their staff, they can have trouble keeping them. And the rewards don’t necessarily mean more money, or have to be job-related.

Many companies can actually save their employees – and their business – money by creating a group health insurance program. They can negotiate better corporate health insurance plans for their employees, simply by using their staff numbers, and a willingness to connect. The National Health Act enables health funds to provide a discount of up to 12 per cent.

Typically, businesses with more than 300 employees can negotiate favourable insurance terms through the waiver of waiting periods, discounts, better products or better service. This number comes down even further if companies can contribute to hospital excess.

Corporate health insurance is a win-win for all concerned, because the business has happier and healthier employees, staff feel valued, more engaged and save money, and all this has a flow-on effect to the employee’s family. It is a simple way of providing an added benefit to the staff, which leads to better engagement, while adding value to the company and showing it is an employer that takes work/life balance seriously. It’s about creating moments of truth.

Negotiations for a corporate health care program can not only net better terms, but also secure access to corporate-style products and a host of other services such as company flu vaccinations, executive health checks, stress management and weight loss programs.

There are many causes of back pain, ranging from the easily preventable and treatable, to problems that may require consultation with a doctor or a specific back care expert, such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath.

For back problems that result from work or recreational injuries, or diseases such as scoliosis, arthritis, osteoporosis or sciatica or referred back pain from an injury elsewhere, such as the knee, foot or hip, you should seek medical advice. Back pain can also occur as a result of changes to the body, such as carrying extra weight during pregnancy, or decreased flexibility with age.

However, there are some back problems that are much easier to solve yourself, by making some simple lifestyle changes:

• Take regular exercise to keep your spine and its supporting tissues in good shape. Weak muscles and ligaments are unprepared for sudden or heavy loads, and are therefore easily injured.
• Perform specific strength training exercises every day to create a tight ‘girdle’ of muscle around your abdominal core. This can reduce existing back pain and help to prevent future injury. For advice on how to start a daily program, see ‘Your Essential Back Exercises’
• Reduce your stress levels. One of the side effects of stress is increased muscle tension, which can lead to fatigue, stiffness and localised pain. Constantly tight muscles can create postural imbalances that may cause misalignment of the spine. Learn some relaxation techniques to reduce stress levels and subsequent muscle tension. Try massage, heat or cold applications and gentle exercise, or ask your back care specialist for advice.
• Be careful when lifting and carrying heavy loads. To begin, squat down, hold the object as close to your body as practical, and lift by using your legs, keeping your back straight. Think of your back as a forklift, not a crane! ) If the load is too heavy to manage comfortably on your own, ask someone to help you, or use equipment (such as a trolley).
• Maintain a healthy body weight: being overweight or obese puts extra strain on your back.
• Be aware of your posture. Consider your bearing, particularly in seated positions, such as when driving or sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Don’t slump, instead, keep your back upright and use support where necessary (such as a lumbar support cushion or footstool).
• Take regular breaks. When driving, standing or sitting for long periods of time, take a break at least every hour to change the position of your joints and loosen your muscles. Include a short walk and a few stretches as part of your break.
• Change your mattress - surfaces that are too soft or too hard can aggravate a sore back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.2

In addition, the Australian Osteopathic Association have some extra tips to keep your back in top shape:

• For back pain, see your back specialist sooner rather than later
• Watch children’s posture: don’t let them carry a heavy school bag on just one shoulder
• During pregnancy, treatment by a back care professional can help your body to adjust to changes as the baby grows
• Do your best to make your workplace more ergonomically friendly.  1 For more information on posture and ergonomics at work, read ‘How to sit at a computer’ on the Ergonomics Australia website.

Sources

1.    Back Pain, Australian Osteopathic Association, www.osteopathic.com.au/download/Backpain.doc,  visited 4 May 2006
2.    Back Pain, Better Health Channel, Victorian Government, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Back_pain? OpenDocument, visited 4 May 2006

Author details

Written by vielife May 8 2006.

All articles credited to vielife are written by a team of trained, qualified journalists and checked and approved by vielife’s in-house chief medical officer, Dr Peter Mills. These articles are reviewed by our panel of specially selected health professionals to reflect our view of current best practice.
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Welcome to the all new Anista company blog! Please check back here on a regular basis to see what’s happening at Anista.

This blog hopes to provide you with both informative and thought provoking question into your Employee Benefit Program.

So stay tuned

Regards,
Dujon