January 2007

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Small business owners risk health by putting work commitments first

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS RISK HEALTH
Small business owners put work commitments before health

Another New Year and a raft of resolutions will see small business people up and down the country aspire to be fitter and healthier in 2007. However, according to research released today by MORE TH>N BUSINESS, these good intentions will quickly be forgotten when they get back into work mode.

Despite a desire to live a healthy lifestyle, the research reveals that the British workforce is increasingly putting work commitments over and above health issues. In 2006, 44 per cent of workers admitted to cancelling doctor’s appointments booked during work time and more worryingly, over one in eight (12 per cent) felt it necessary to store up ailments to avoid making trips to the doctor more often1. These findings are echoed by a recent report from the Developing Patient Partnerships department that showed over 11 million GP appointments were missed in 2006.

Unable to fulfil doctors’ appointments, 13 per cent of workers said they used alternative means like NHS Direct or their local pharmacist to obtain health advice in their own time and one in 10 women even resorted to self-diagnosis by getting their health advice from friends and family.

Sole traders and small business owners are the most vulnerable groups amongst the British workforce. Time constraints mean they are more likely to ignore nagging health problems but ultimately they have more to lose from taking these risks. It is important they keep their health in tip-top condition to avoid taking extended periods of time off work, which may even result in their businesses having to cease trading temporarily.

Fraser Pannett, owner of Motiv8, a personal training centre in Hertfordshire, has been working as a self-employed Personal Trainer for over 12 years. Fraser said: “As a small business owner, I’m used to working as many hours as I possibly can and have often been guilty of ignoring minor nagging health problems or not taking time off to recover properly from a bout of illness.

“However, six years ago a slight backache threatened to develop into a severe back problem, which could have led to me being off work for months. This would have affected my income as if my body doesn’t work, then I don’t work. I learnt that sacrificing my own health for work commitments is ultimately counterproductive. I also see this happening with many people who cancel fitness sessions or delay booking personal training for the same reasons. Ultimately, my business is about promoting and motivating others into leading a healthy lifestyle, and as a businessman I feel it’s important to reflect those values myself. ”

The research also revealed that workaholic Brits are not only compromising their health but fitness, too. January is the single most popular month for joining a gym when the fitness industry sees an 11.8 per cent increase in new memberships2. Despite this surge in new joiners and the cost to sign-up, the research revealed that British workers just don’t get around to having a regular workout. Nearly half (49 per cent) of working gym members admitted to going just once a week or less and a staggering one in five members (22 per cent) never make it to the gym at all.

Fatigue and work commitments were cited as the main reasons for neglecting the gym. 43 per cent of workers said they were just too tired to head for the gym either before or after work and over a third directly attributed their lack of exercise to work commitments.

Mike Bowman, head of Insurance at MORE TH>N BUSINESS, explained: “Small business workers in particular are more at risk of putting work commitments above their health and fitness. The findings from our survey don’t bode well for our health or make good business sense.

Bowman continued: “It’s a well-known fact that regular exercise and good general health helps combat stress, making individuals happier and more productive at work. MORE TH>N BUSINESS was shocked to find that so many people are neglecting their health and has launched a 24 hour customer helpline to give health and well-being counselling to small business owners.”

For further information on small business insurance from MORE TH>N BUSINESS call 0800 072 0077 or log onto www.morethanbusiness.com.

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