Heart disease is currently one of the main causes of death for people of working age. As a result, employers are having to give increased consideration to how heart disease could affect their employees. Employees are also having to understand how they can help employees with heart conditions to recover and return to work.
As Atos Healthcare are experienced in providing healthcare solutions to employers, we previously blogged about the responsibilities employers have to support employees with heart disease. In today’s blog post we will blog about how employers can help employees with heart conditions, through their recovery and return to work. Please read on for more.
How to best support your employees through recovery and their return to work
While employees are off sick it is important for managers and colleagues to keep in touch and to gain an understanding of how their employee has responded to treatment.
Managers and colleagues should use this opportunity to reassure employees with heart conditions that they have not been forgotten and are still much valued.
For many people, returning to work is also a vital stage in the recovery process and it needs to be made clear that the employer is thinking about how best to assist with return to work. Similarly, if a
Generally, a phased return to work – over the period of a week or two – enables people to manage the tiredness they will inevitably experience after a period of absence.
Similarly, if a person still experiences some symptoms after returning to work, this will not necessarily meant that they should not continue with their return to work, but that they should work within their limitations and continue to act on the advice of their doctor.
An occupational health service can provide advice on this and help advise employers and their employees on the best approach.
Understanding the side effects associated with Heart Disease
Having a heart attack can have psychological as well as physical consequences, which can have an equally serious effect on and employee’s rehabilitation and recovery.
Depression is a common side effect of a heart attack, and can manifest immediately or soon after a heart problem is diagnosed.
Many people suffer loss of confidence following a heart problem, and fear that they will make their condition worse if they resume normal daily activity.
For the first months of recovery, every twinge or bout of indigestion can be interpreted as another heart attack.
This aspect requires understanding equally by employer and employee.
The best way for an employee to regain confidence is to undergo a cardiac rehabilitation programme and, if physically possible, to return to work early.
Depression should be recognised and treated appropriately – possibly by drugs and possibly by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – managers should try to ensure employees feel more comfortable and supported in the workplace while they are being helped.
Are you an employer? Are you unsure of your duty of care to your employees? Visit our website for more on our healthcare services and check our Atos Healthcare blog regularly for blog posts designed to update you on how best to fulfil your duty of care to your employees.
Tags: Atos, Atos Healthcare, heart conditions, heart disease, heart disease and the return to work, occupational health services
