Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

4-minute read
13 July 2023 | 19:14 CAT

Image: Business and Tech

Working long hours, according to a study done by the WHO and International Labour Organization in 2021, which included 13 countries in three WHO regions (America, Europe, and Western Pacific), is known to be responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease, and was the leading cause of death from strokes and heart disease. The study concludes that working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35% higher risk of a stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease than working 35-40 hours a week.

Throughout Employee Wellness Week, the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) aspires to educate private and public sector employers and employees about the importance of wellness in the workplace and their homes.

Improving well-being in the workplace has been a goal of many employment agencies for many years, and there is universal agreement that a healthy workforce is productive with an increased sense of overall well-being. Many employees suffer from ‘burnout’ due to a demanding job, which interferes with carrying out daily activities, thus affecting productivity.

Health Promoter at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Nurse Sharon Roziers, said The HSFSA uses this week to highlight the importance of heart and brain health and the associated risk factors given that CVD has a very high disease burden in SA.

“A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. The benefits of being proactive, lower the risks of medical conditions including mental health which should be at the heart of any employer’s priority list. Employers who invest in the well-being of employees, make a positive impact,” she added.

Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the HSFSA, states, ‘ Unfortunately, many companies are unaware of the health status of their workforce, which is counterproductive. She, therefore, encourages those in management to have regular health awareness and health risk assessment sessions which the Foundation can conduct.’

The HSFSA conducts health risk assessments (HRA’S), an essential pillar of the Foundation’s health promotion programme. The HRAs include assessing family history, current health status, and measuring blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), mental health assessment, and appropriate gender-specific health issues.

The HRAs are a way of ascertaining who is at risk so that they can be referred for appropriate medical care. The assessments can be accompanied by a health talk by a certified professional to help employees understand that being healthy is about long-term life choices and habits.

Most importantly, the HSFSA offers ways to create a healthy environment to promote productivity and reduce absenteeism in the workplace.

Sustaining healthy employees occurs in an enabling healthy work environment. Stress can stem from different demands at work, including deadlines and long working hours, complicated by difficulties within the home environment or community and public spaces.

Listen to the interview on Sabahul Muslim.