NICE and physical
Thu 29 May 2008
29/05/2008
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The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has called on employees to get more physical and take more exercise. Its new guidelines are designed to help employers develop plans for their workers, which could include cycling or walking to work and physical activity during the day. "With working people spending an estimated 60 per cent of their waking hours at work, many employers already recognise their responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their employees," said clinical and public health director, Professor Peter Littlejohns. "As well as benefiting staff, a healthy workforce can result in financial benefits for employers, including increased productivity and less sickness absence as well as greater staff retention." NICE has estimated physical inactivity in England costs the economy £8.2 billion. This arises from a combination of increased sickness absence and health care costs. A recent government report has called for a new fit-note and a fit-to-work system, with doctors deciding what workers are capable of.
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