ALMOST a fifth (19 per cent) of small to medium-sized businesses in the South West have suffered negative impacts caused by staff health and wellbeing issues, a survey has revealed.

Of that number, 63 per cent have reported a rise in absenteeism, while 19 per cent have experienced a drop in productivity and a further 13 per cent have seen an increase in staff turnover.

The findings come from the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey that canvasses the opinion of SME owners and senior management across the UK.

Paul Kimber, regional sales director in the South West, said: “Anything that has a negative impact on an employee’s wellbeing will likely be reflected in their performance and consequently, that of the overall business.

“Figures from the government estimate that almost 130 million working days are lost every year to sickness in the UK and that ill health among employees costs the national economy approximately £100 billion. Whether it is mental or physical, any form of stress or illness can be detrimental to productivity and efficiency in the workplace. It can reduce the power and morale of the workforce and become a significant drain on resources.”

The Business Barometer also revealed that maintaining the health and wellbeing of employees is a priority for the majority (81 per cent) of firms in the South West.

“For some SMEs, managing health in the workplace may seem like a challenging and costly task, but it is an important issue and one that shouldn’t be avoided. Especially when it can bring such clear benefits to your business,” added Mr Kimber.