Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues — from back pain to joint and muscle injuries — are one of the most widespread and costly health challenges affecting today’s workforce. While often overlooked or accepted as inevitable, these conditions are having a significant impact on employee wellbeing, absenteeism, and organisational performance.

In fact, research suggests that up to 64% of desk-based employees may be experiencing some form of MSK pain at any given time — contributing to lost productivity, increased healthcare costs, and long-term absence.

Despite this, many organisations are sitting still on this issue, taking a reactive approach — addressing issues only when employees are already in pain or unable to work. But as costs continue to rise, particularly in healthcare and insurance, this model is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

In this episode of The HR Room, we explore how organisations can shift from reactive to proactive strategies when it comes to musculoskeletal health. We discuss the role of HR in prevention, the importance of data and business cases, and how organisations can design work and wellbeing strategies that truly support employees.

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If you have suggestions for future episodes or would like to be a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn.

To learn more about Dr. Shane Lowe and Vitrue Health, visit vitruehealth.com.

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts, and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.

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