By Dr Louise Slaney, Medical Director, International Medical Management (IMM)
From its humble beginnings during the Industrial Revolution as a tool to protect worker safety, occupational health has evolved into a holistic focus on employee wellbeing.
Encompassing not just physical safety, but emotional and mental wellbeing, occupational health is far from being a tick-box exercise and is now a necessity in a modern workplace.
Every year, one in four people in Scotland will experience a mental health problem.
The impact on business is huge with absences affecting employee wellbeing as well as productivity.
A recent Freedom of Information request from Police Scotland, for example, showed the number of officers off work because of anxiety, depression, stress or post-traumatic stress rose from 814 in 2021 to 1,236 in 2024… an increase of 52%.
Adult mental health services are stretched – reportedly costing Scottish taxpayers £3.6m a day. The closure of Mental Health Aberdeen has also raised concerns about the provision of care services in the North-east.
The onus, therefore, falls on businesses to protect their biggest asset – their employees.
The critical shift in occupational health from purely physical safety to wider emotional wellbeing is paramount.
For companies to build success, avoid absenteeism and staff turnover, they must bring employees along with them, avoiding stress and burnout, while offering services to tackle mental health issues when they arise.
Creating supportive environments, high morale and a culture of health, compassion, dignity and respect are major aspects of employee care.
Far from being buzzwords, employee wellbeing should be regarded as an integral organisational strategy.
Staff recognition schemes – not just monetary, but appreciation, celebrating success
Flexible work (offering work / life balance) – remote / hybrid working, flexible hours, etc, to help manage life outside work and limit stress
Supportive leadership – an emotionally-healthy workplace where staff feel valued, appreciated, listened to and encouraged to achieve their full potential
Leads to reduced staff turnover – employees are more likely to remain loyal to a business where their emotional health is valued, and a positive culture is fostered. Less turnover = a more settled workforce and reduced recruitment time and cost.
What does a healthy workplace look like?
Organisations promoting wellness programmes deliver this in holistic ways.
It’s crucial that this is not only reactive but proactive too – don’t just close the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Many businesses have mental health ambassadors, or free counselling, and while this is admirable especially in times where access to this on the NHS is lengthy and sporadic, preventing poor mental health in so far as possible in staff is key.
Wellness programmes can include the organisation of running clubs, an on-site gym or discounted memberships, yoga classes, mindfulness workshops, health screenings, walking meetings, team-building sessions, private healthcare and the likes.
Where do we go from here…
We should embrace technology and the advancements that are being made in occupational health.
AI undoubtedly plays its part with tailored health programmes, wellness apps and wearable devices all becoming more popular.
We can now have medical consultations and appointments remotely… with digital appointments increasingly seen as convenient and effective in this modern age.
Digital data around stress levels, step count, heart rate are now more readily accessible than ever and while the accuracy of the statistics delivered can be variable, for basic metrics and patterns, they are useful.
Social media platforms can offer people with mental health conditions and wider health issues a community of support. Sourcing useful support groups and promoting these to employees reinforces a network of care.
The big Covid shift…
The pandemic brought about one of the biggest shifts in occupational health we have seen in modern times.
The focus on physical health and the mental impact of lockdown cannot be underestimated.
From a workplace perspective, remote working, social distancing, increased stress over the jobs market and wider economy, Covid changed everything and, it’s fair to say, we’re all still adapting years later.
Working from home wasn’t the ideal scenario for everyone, blurring the line between the professional and personal, while many dealt with feelings of loneliness, fear and isolation.
Technological solutions were crucial in ensuring remote workers remained linked in collaboration with wider teams. Increases in stress and anxiety were rife and occupational health programmes were forced to adapt in ways employees to continue to benefit from today.
There’s increased access to mental health resources, support and a greater willingness to discuss mental health in the workplace.
Where once occupational health and workplace wellbeing was seen as a supplementary benefit for staff, it has evolved into a crucial component of business strategy and a need to protect the people at the heart of what brings success.
Dr Louise Slaney is an Occupational Medicine Specialist with more than 17 years’ experience in offshore and maritime health. She has been at the forefront of training, supporting, and selecting offshore medics, including establishing one of the first HSE-approved Offshore Medic training courses in the UK. Throughout her career, she has written and implemented occupational health policies, surveillance programmes, and clinical pathways that align with UK, international, and industry regulations and best practice. Her work spans the full spectrum of occupational health practice – from fitness-for-work assessments and regulatory compliance to health promotion and CPD programme development. Dr Slaney has designed comprehensive documentation suites, training packs and audit tools that are now used across the offshore industry. She remains committed to raising standards in occupational medicine, with a focus on practical resources that improve safety, health and wellbeing in remote environments.
Aberdeen-based International Medical Management (IMM) offers an extensive range of occupational health services that can make a difference to the health, wellbeing and productivity of an organisation’s staff. Its tailored health initiatives include lifestyle and wellness medicals, ensuring early detection of health conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, lung disease and certain types of cancer. These holistic services maximise wellbeing, while minimising health risks.
For occupational health guidance in your workplace, drop us a line at info@intmedical.com
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