A record 2.5 million people were off work last year because of long-term sickness with the shift to working from home being blamed for the increase.
The number of workers signed off has risen by 25pc compared to pre-lockdown levels.
According to the numbers released by the Office for National Statistics, back and neck pain is the main cause, while an additional 33pc of people on sick leave for spine-related ailments.
Phil Mortimer, who has worked as an osteopath for nearly two decades at The Osteopathic Consultancy on St Augustine’s Street, Norwich, said signing on from home is “undoubtedly” fuelling the rise.
He said: “Sitting with your laptop on the sofa or on a stool at a breakfast bar are just about the worst positions for your neck and back.
“If you’re sitting in that rounded shoulder posture, without a mouse or separate keyboard, within two hours you’re going to start seeing issues.”
With just over 44pc of us working from home at least one day a week – and half of those fully remote – Mr Mortimer said companies have a responsibility to give employees the proper tools to make their home offices ergonomic.
He said: “If they’re working from home more than three days a week, the company needs to provide them with a specific ergonomic chair and a proper occupational health assessment to make sure they’re sitting in the correct position.
“It is crucial businesses invest in this, otherwise the problems are going to keep getting worse and we’ll be seeing a generation with potentially chronic back and neck issues.”
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Not just physical health
According to HR experts, mental health is also suffering.
Claire Moore, HR Adviser at local accountancy firm Lovewell Blake, said they started to notice an increase in the number of people struggling with anxiety and depression during the first lockdown.
The company, which has a hybrid working policy, said they’ve had to learn new ways to safeguard employees.
She said: “It’s harder to spot problems when you’re not meeting in the office every day.
“Managers have to make sure they’re still having those face-to-face calls so they can keep an eye out for signs someone’s struggling.
“If we’re made aware as soon as issues start to arise then we can put steps in place and give them the support, so hopefully they then don’t have to be off sick. Early intervention is key.
“Without it, you could be looking at more people off work for longer. That’s bad news, especially for small businesses, who might end up having to pay for cover, as well as the salary of the person off sick.”
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“A complicated situation”
With all the apparent disadvantages of home working, is it time for us to head back to the office?
Mark Keeler, director of Norwich-based Keeler Recruitment Ltd, says it’s not that simple.
He said: “It’s a complicated situation for businesses. Benefits are now more important than salary.
“If a company offers a candidate £24,000 to work in the office, or £22,000 to work from home, most people are going for the remote option.
“Many want to re-introduce in-person working, but if competitors aren’t then they risk losing people.”
And according to Jon Neal, CEO of mental health support charity Suffolk MIND, management style could be more important than where we're working.
He said: “It’s more important for employers to think about how well they are communicating with staff.
“The biggest influence on a person’s wellbeing in the workplace is the skills of their line manager.
“Investing in training line managers to be better able to motivate and lead teams, while also ensuring they are meeting their own and their staff’s emotional needs, would have a bigger positive impact than bringing everyone back to the workplace.”
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