Musculoskeletal health in the workplace: Why small employers shouldn’t ignore it

Back pain. Stiff necks. A dodgy shoulder that “just flares up now and again”. Sound familiar?

Whether your team are on building sites, driving between appointments, working with children or stuck behind a screen, musculoskeletal health in the workplace is something every small employer needs to consider.

In 2023/24 alone, over 470,000 workers experienced work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). That’s a lot of aches and pains… and a lot of lost working days. In fact, the HSE found that on average, each person who was suffering from MSDs took 14.3 days off work that year.

The average annual cost of that to an employer is around £2,000 per employee, just for MSD-related absences. That isn’t even factoring in the need to provide cover for the employee or the time and money an employer will spend managing their sickness absence. It wouldn’t take much for you to be looking at an annual cost of around £4,000 per employee.

But there are practical steps you can take when it comes to musculoskeletal health, to keep your team healthy, reduce risks and protect your bottom line.

Start with musculoskeletal health awareness

Musculoskeletal health issues often build up slowly… the kind of thing people dismiss as “just a niggle” until it turns into time off work. As an employer, prevention’s much easier than cure.

Simple steps to start with include:

• Encouraging regular movement and breaks (especially in desk-based or driving roles)
• Reviewing manual handling processes
• Checking desk set-ups, chair support or vehicle seating
• Having open conversations about discomfort before it becomes a bigger issue

Josh Adcock, Physiotherapist at Leominster Osteopaths tells us: “The most common workplace injuries we encounter are related to repetitive stress or prolonged static postures, particularly from sitting at a desk for extended periods. These sustained activities place continuous strain on specific body structures, increasing their vulnerability to injury over time.

Recognising the roles that involve these repetitive or static tasks is crucial. Equally important is implementing effective strategies to minimise the risk of further injury and promote long-term musculoskeletal health”.

One size doesn’t fit all

Different roles put pressure on different parts of the body and what works for one team member might not suit another.

Here are just a few examples:

• Office roles often lead to lower back pain, neck strain or tension headaches from poor posture or screen time
• Driving jobs involving prolonged sitting can cause hip tightness, sciatica or shoulder pain
• Construction and manual work brings repetitive strain, joint pain or lifting injuries
• Active or childcare roles can cause wrist, knee or shoulder strain from constant movement or awkward positions

Adapting your approach to musculoskeletal health as an employer doesn’t have to be expensive. You might:

• Offer simple ergonomic adjustments (even small changes can help)
• Train staff on proper lifting and posture techniques
• Share stretches or warm-up routines as part of the working day

Another top tip from Josh is “Encourage regular movement breaks from repetitive tasks, such as getting up from the desk for a short walk or stretch or a quick break from repetitive lifting or manual tasks”.

Encourage early action

Lots of people power through pain because they don’t want to make a fuss or they feel bad about speaking up. By the time they do, though, the damage might be worse… and recovery can take longer.

Creating a workplace where staff feel safe to raise concerns about musculoskeletal health early on can make all the difference.

Josh says “At Leominster Osteopaths, we commonly see patients once an injury has begun to significantly impact their daily function. By this stage, recovery can take several weeks and may result in time off work or reduced capacity for normal duties.

In many cases, the issue started as a minor pain or discomfort that was ignored or overlooked, only becoming more severe after a triggering event. When identified early, these injuries are often much easier to manage – sometimes requiring just a single treatment and no disruption to work responsibilities”.

Know where to signpost

As a small business or charity, you might not have an Occupational Health (OH) team on hand. Indeed, OH might not always be the most effective option when it comes to musculoskeletal health. So, having other trusted professionals in your corner really matters.

Leominster Osteopaths is a local, well-established clinic supporting individuals and employers across Herefordshire. Their team helps with injury recovery, long-term pain management and – importantly – focuses on preventing musculoskeletal health issues before they start.

They also offer a special scheme for local employers, making it easier (and more affordable) for your staff to access treatment when they need it.

Josh shares “The scheme is called “Ticket to Better Health” which is a straightforward, flexible Business Health Scheme that allows you to invest in your team’s wellbeing while keeping costs fully tax-deductible. This initiative enables you to provide staff with access to local, professional therapies – supporting both physical and mental wellbeing when they need it most”.

How Ticket to Better Health works:

• Purchase tickets in blocks of 5 or 10. Each ticket’s valued at £25 (blocks are priced at £125 for 5 tickets, or £250 for 10 tickets)

• Distribute the tickets to employees as part of your wellbeing initiatives, sickness absence support, as an incentive for maintaining good health or as a healthier way of rewarding your people

• Each ticket provides your employees with a £25 contribution towards any eligible treatment at Leominster Osteopaths

• Tickets are valid for 18 months, offering flexibility for both you and your team

• The cost of the tickets is fully tax-deductible for you as an employer, as it’s a staff welfare expense

• This scheme complies with HMRC rules on trivial benefits, so employees will not incur a taxable benefit when using the tickets. That means no extra paperwork or HMRC returns for you to complete either!

Here’s an example:

Buy a block of 10 tickets for £250 and use them however suits your team best – whether that’s supporting one employee through ongoing treatment or offering several team members a one-off wellbeing boost. Each ticket can be redeemed for a £25 contribution towards a professional therapy of their choice.

Leominster Osteopaths offer a range of services including osteopathy, physiotherapy, holistic massage, foot care, ear wax removal and cryotherapy.

A small step with a big impact

Supporting musculoskeletal health in the workplace doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Often, it’s about:

• Noticing problems early
• Adjusting tasks or work setups
• Making space for quality conversations
• Getting the right support in place

Want to find out more about how Leominster Osteopaths could help keep your team healthy and moving?

Phone:  01568 610 610

Email:   enquiries@leominsterosteopaths.co.uk

Visit:     www.osteopathiccentre.co.uk

Practical HR support for musculoskeletal health issues

At Marches HR, we understand that musculoskeletal health issues can feel overwhelming… especially when managing sickness absence, handling return-to-work plans or carrying out pre-employment health checks. Our straightforward, practical HR support helps you take proactive steps to protect your team and reduce costs.

If you’re unsure where to start, or need support to manage MSD-related absences sensitively and effectively, we’re here to help. Get in touch today for friendly advice tailored specifically to small employers.