Ep 267 - The Hidden Cost of Sitting Still

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.

 

Guest

• Dr. Shane Lowe — CEO & Co-Founder, Vitrue Health

 

Topics include:

• What musculoskeletal (MSK) health is and why it matters in the workplace
• The scale of MSK issues and their impact on absenteeism and productivity
• The role of HR in driving preventative health strategies
• How data can be used to build a compelling business case
• How AI and technology can personalise prevention strategies
• Breaking down silos between HR, health & safety, and benefits teams
• Practical steps organisations can take to start addressing MSK risks

 

Key Takeaways for HR Leaders

• Musculoskeletal health is one of the leading drivers of absence and workplace cost.
• A reactive approach (waiting until employees are in pain) is no longer sustainable.
• Prevention is significantly more cost-effective than treatment.
• Data is critical — HR must quantify the cost of absenteeism and presenteeism.
• Organisational silos (HR, H&S, benefits) can limit the effectiveness of wellbeing strategies.
• AI and technology can enable personalised, scalable prevention solutions.
• HR should take a systems-based approach to designing healthier workplaces.

 

Get in Touch

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, be sure to join the conversation.

If you have suggestions for future episodes or would like to be a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

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

 

About The HR Room Podcast

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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