Why back health?
Back pain is the leading cause of musculoskeletal (MSK)-related disability claims. It accounts for 30% of all MSK-related long-term disability (LTD) claims. Aside from this, good back health is critical to a quality working life. Maintaining good back health promotes functional mobility, balance and co-ordination, essential for all types of work. It also supports physical and mental fitness, and reduces the risk of other health problems.
It's important for plan sponsors to invest in the health of their employees. Having a strategy focused on back health could:
- reduce absenteeism and presenteesim
- reduce disability claims
- improve productivity
How to navigate the Musculoskeletal Health Strategy Toolkit
Every workplace has its own unique factors which affect back pain risk for its employees.
The nature of the work and type of industry influence these factors. This toolkit will guide you through how to assess and understand the challenges specific to your workplace. This will help you identify targeted actions to reduce and manage risk factors and create a culture of prevention.
We designed this toolkit to be a practical guide for employers. It will explain:
- Why back health is important for your business and the health of your employees
- What you can do to prevent back problems both in and outside of the workplace
- How to address back health in any size organization
It also includes resources to educate your employees and promote healthy behaviours related to MSK and back health.
Five stages of building a workplace musculoskeletal health strategy:
12020 Sun Life Canada claims data 22020 Sun Life Canada claims data