There’s an old parable by the American philosopher Benjamin Franklin that can easily be adapted for our times: The biggest sale of the year was about to happen, and everyone in the company was rushing around getting ready for the important client’s visit. The motor pool was to prepare the company car to pick the client up at the airport, but it needed a new tyre. The company mechanic had been feeling ill for a few days, but never received an employee health check. He was suddenly struck down with a terrible case of the flu and forced to leave work early before changing the tyre.
The company driver departed for the airport without realizing he was running on a bad tyre and it went flat on the way. It was a cold day, and he wasn’t feeling very well himself and fell ill whilst attempting to change over to the spare. Unable to complete the task, he was forced to flag down a taxi and abandon the company car by the roadside. No one arrived at the airport to pick up the client, and after waiting for an hour he grew irritated and flew home, and the big sale didn’t happen.
Health check of Tyre
So, for want of a health check the mechanic was lost, for want of a mechanic the tyre was lost, for want of a tyre the driver was lost, for want of a driver the car was lost, for want of a car the client was lost, for want of a client the big sale was lost, all for the want of an employee health check! I do apologize for being a bit heavy-handed with the moral of the story, but I do it only to drive home the importance of implementing regular employee health checks!
If you want to ensure your business runs smoothly it’s imperative that the people doing the work are healthy. They must be fit to perform their tasks. Scheduling regular health checks is a common sense practice that all businesses should engage in, for the prosperity of all involved.
Regular health checkups are essential for maintaining overall well-being and detecting potential health issues in their early stages. Here are some key reasons why it’s important to have health checkups regularly:
Early detection of health conditions
Regular checkups can help identify health problems at an early stage, even before noticeable symptoms arise. Detecting diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension early significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and better outcomes.
Prevention and risk assessment
Health checkups provide an opportunity to assess your risk factors for certain diseases. By discussing your medical history, lifestyle choices, and family history with your healthcare provider, you can receive personalized advice on disease prevention, including recommendations for vaccinations, lifestyle modifications, and screening tests based on your individual risk profile.
Health maintenance and disease management
Regular checkups allow healthcare professionals to monitor your overall health and well-being. They can assess your vital signs. These can be blood pressure, heart rate, and body mass index (BMI). Conduct blood tests to evaluate your cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and organ function. This helps in identifying any deviations from normal ranges. You can also take appropriate action to manage chronic conditions or prevent their progression.
Emotional well-being and mental health
Health checkups not just limits to physical health. They also provide an opportunity to discuss your mental and emotional well-being. Talking to your healthcare provider about stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health concerns can lead to appropriate support, counseling, or referrals to specialists, if necessary.
Lifestyle counseling and guidance
Regular checkups allow healthcare professionals to provide valuable guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They can offer advice on nutrition, exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, alcohol moderation, and stress reduction techniques. These lifestyle modifications can have a significant positive impact on your overall health and quality of life.
Establishing a relationship with a healthcare provider
Regular checkups foster an ongoing relationship with your healthcare provider. This relationship promotes trust, communication, and collaboration in managing your health. Your healthcare provider becomes familiar with your medical history. He understands your health goals, and can provide personalized advice and treatment plans tailored to your needs.
Health checks are just one of the ways companies can improve their bottom line. These can be competitive in today’s marketplace through the simple act of treating their employees as their most valued asset. Most employees spend at least eight hours of their lives a day at the workplace. So they make sure it is a healthy environment is essential. Other ways to promote employee health and well-being include:
- Giving workers more input and control over how they accomplish their daily tasks.
- Maintain the proper number of staff to ensure reasonable workloads.
- Allow more flexibility about when and where employees work.
- Encourage management to be supportive of the employee’s personal needs.
- Foster a sense of belonging among the staff to build a cohesive team.
Australia takes the health and welfare of the nation’s workers seriously. Here is more information on your company’s obligations to maintain a healthy, productive workplace. And don’t neglect to change those tyres!
Krishan Jangir