Guest blog by Janet O'Neill, Deputy Head, National School of Occupational Health
At the SOM Quarry Bank Mill workplace visit we were all taken back to an early focus on workforce wellbeing, foresighted compared to most others at the time.
During the Industrial Revolution, there were no regulations, support or specialist advice, and the norm was to disregard the physical and mental health of the workforce. For most employers at the time, the link between workforce health and productivity had not been made. However, contrary to his contemporaries, industrialist Samuel Greg, who ran Quarry Bank cotton Mill in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, embraced this principle. He believed that looking after his workforce led to improved productivity. His approach to worker welfare was ahead of its time, providing:
- Housing for his workers, including gardens to grow vegetables.
- Community amenities and education for workers' children.
- An apprentice house with healthy food, clothing, and education - with a much lower mortality rate amongst his apprentices compared to contemporaries and….
- Health care: Dr Peter Holland is the first known physician to work in a factory and considered one of the pioneers of occupational medicine. Samuel Greg employed him to look after the health of workers at Quarry Bank Mill, making him one of the earliest recorded occupational physicians in the UK. His records give us a valuable insight into the health of the mill workers.
This brought benefits to his business. Workers were healthier, more skilled, and less likely to leave, ensuring the mill’s success. Benefits were:
- Increased Productivity: Better living conditions and welfare for workers, enhanced their productivity and reduced ill health.
- Reduced Turnover: Good welfare reduced employee turnover, which meant less time and resources spent on recruiting and training new workers.
- Enhanced Reputation: Greg's approach to worker welfare built a positive reputation for his business, attracting skilled workers and fostering loyalty among employees. This reputation led to other industrialists following his lead.
- Long-term Profitability: A stable and productive workforce contributed to the success of the business.
In today’s business world, employee health and wellbeing is or should be a strategic priority. It is now well known that physical health, mental wellbeing, and job satisfaction directly impact productivity. Key elements being:
- Health & Safety Regulations - laws that ensure employees work in safe environments.
- Use of Occupational Health services to assess the health of employees and provide advice, support legislative control, and provide public health measures.
- Mental Health Support - counselling, mental health days, and stress management programs to support psychological wellbeing.
- Corporate Social Responsibility - Ethical business practices, diversity initiatives, and sustainability efforts contribute to a positive workplace culture.
Measures to improve workplace health are not just an ethical choice, they enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism, and improve employee retention and deliver a return on investment (McKinsey, 2024). Surprisingly, despite all this, some employers remain behind the curve, with only 50% of employers using occupational health, despite the clear benefits demonstrated through SOM’s Occupational Health: The Value proposition (2022), and an aspiration for Universal Access to OH. CIPD’s annual survey Health and wellbeing at work indicates just under half of organisations surveyed had a standalone wellbeing strategy.
Quarry Bank Mill is an early example of workplace wellbeing in action, laying the groundwork for the modern understanding that happy, healthy employees are more productive. Today, many companies continue to refine and expand workplace health and wellbeing initiatives, proving that Greg’s principle still holds true - just in a more evolved and ethical form.
Janet O’Neill is an OH Nurse specialist. She is Head of PAM Academy, the training branch of PAM Group and Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health. She is also board trustee of iOH and a Queen's Nurse. Thanks to SOM for arranging the visit to Quarry Bank Mill.