An annual medical will save businesses both time and money long-term. Learn how annual employee medicals can manage and prevent illness and injury in the workplace, along with a long list of additional employer and employee benefits. Annual Employee Medical Assessments: Catch health concerns early Reduce employee downtime Reduce insurance costs and conflicts Reduce employee turnover Support your aging workforce With the risks that diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses pose to a workplace, it’s no wonder why employers are scheduling routine annual health checks for their team. Workplace Health Risks Diabetes According to Diabetes Australia, diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century and the largest challenge to Australia’s healthcare system. Considering the fact that 280 Australians develop diabetes every day, the gravity of this illness cannot be overstated; a company that ignores this growing threat does so at their own peril. The health challenges posed by diabetes are far-reaching and insidious. Diabetes can lead to: Blindness Heart disease & stroke Gastroparesis (Paralysis of the stomach) Increased risk of dementia Kidney disease Diabetic neuropathy It’s estimated that half a million Australians have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Performing annual medicals are a company’s best way of combating this epidemic so that your employees stay healthy and productive for years to come. 💡 Learn more about the risks of Diabetes in the Workplace so that you can prevent and manage diabetes. Heart Disease Heart disease is Australia’s largest killer. According to the Heart Foundation, 51 Australian lives are claimed by heart disease every day. That’s 1 Australian life taken by heart disease every 28 minutes. Common forms of heart disease include: Angina Arrhythmia Atrial fibrillation Cardiac arrest Heart attack Heart failure Valvular heart disease The implications of heart disease are too often fatal. A heart attack on the job poses a danger to your entire workforce. Support your team by making sure each of your employees is properly monitoring their heart hearth. Annual medicals can help catch heart health concerns early to ensure your employees get the help they need when they need it. 💗 Read on in our article Taking Care of Your Heart Health at Work to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease. Workplace Injury and Illness Annual medicals give employers the control to prevent both injury and illness in the workplace. Australian Work-Related Injuries data shows that of 13.4 million people, 4.2% (563,600) experienced a work-related injury or illness in the previous 12 months. Industries that are at a higher risk of workplace injuries such as transportation, building and construction, or aged care should strongly consider regularly scheduled annual medicals. Dangerous jobs require both physical and mental fitness for the safety of every worker and the communities they work in. The sooner you detect a workplace injury, the sooner your employee can get the help they need. An annual medical ensures that long-term injuries such as joint pain or back problems are detected before they have time to develop further. When a concern is discovered, you can address it before small issues turn into insurance claims or absenteeism. The preventative nature of annual medicals ensures the wellbeing of all employees while saving employers both time and money down the road. The Benefits of a Workplace Annual Medical Catch Health Concerns Early Safe Work Australia says illness and injury at work cost the Australian economy $61.8 billion per year. Catching an injury or illness early is less expensive and time consuming to deal with since an illness in its early stages is easier to manage and overcome. Annual medical assessments can catch early signs of illness and remind your employees to pay attention to their own healthcare. Reduce Employee Downtime Employee absenteeism comes at a cost to everyone. Just one employee’s long-term absence can negatively impact the entire workplace. In addition to the financial challenges posed to the employer, long-term absenteeism can also affect employee morale. The absent employee will miss out on work and social opportunities, while their co-workers may grow to resent them for having to take on extra work in their absence. This added stress and tension interferes with a productive and healthy work environment. Annual medicals keep up with employee health to prevent illness and injury that can lead to long-term absenteeism. Reduce Insurance Costs and Conflicts An investment in annual medical assessments is considerably less expensive than an insurance claim. Due to the high cost that workplace illness and injury places on the Australian economy each year, insurance companies are beginning to ask more questions about the health of your employees. By investing in preventative measures like annual employee health checks, you can provide assurance to insurance companies and reduce the risk of future financial pitfalls due to insurance claims. 💡 More on Why Insurance Companies Want Employment Medicals so that your business can stay ahead of industry trends. Reduce Employee Turnover People want to feel they are a valuable member of the team. Annual medical assessments show your employees you care for their health and wellbeing in and out of the workplace. An employee who feels valued is less likely to seek employment elsewhere, which is a good thing when you consider it can cost an employer between one-half to two times an employee’s annual salary to replace them. If your employee makes $30,000 a year, it may cost you $60,000 to find a replacement. Retaining your talent is a wise investment when turnover comes at such high a price to businesses. Support an Aging Workforce Australia’s workforce is aging. As of 2017, 1 in 7 Australians were 65 or older, with that number expected to rise in the years to come. The risk of workplace illness and injury increases as employees age. Annual medical assessments monitor and manage conditions that can develop as your employees grow older. Chronic conditions that can arise from aging include: Adult onset diabetes Arthritis Cataracts Dementia Glaucoma Lung disease Osteoporosis Annual medicals demonstrate to your older and elderly employees you understand their unique challenges and are there to help. They will also keep your aging employees from burning out mentally and physically, so they can continue work in comfort. Continued Medical Support To see the full potential of benefits, support your annual medicals with pre-employment and exit medical assessments. When businesses prioritize employee wellness every step of the way, they create a safe, healthy, and happy workforce. Continue Supporting Your Workforce Fatigue in the workplace can cause low productivity, mistakes, and injuries. Workplace problems due to fatigue in any work environment are preventable if employers invest in the wellbeing of their workforce. Learn How to Prevent and Manage Signs of Fatigue in the Workplace for a safe and happy workforce. Pre-employment medical assessments are an investment in the financial health of a business, as they prevent and mitigate future risks to the health and safety of a company and its employees. Since they help manage workplace health and safety risks, they are to the benefit of both employers and employees. Learn Why Pre-Employment Medicals are a Win-Win for Employers and Employees. Workforce Health Assessors offers comprehensive pre-employment, pre-placement, and periodic medical assessments tailored to the needs of your business. We organise, perform, and report on all health assessments and medicals to help you determine the suitability of candidates for your business and mitigate risks in the workplace. Our tests are carefully designed and vary depending on the specifications of the role a candidate will fill. Learn more about our pre-employment medical services, ongoing employee health checks and other health assessment services.