Musculoskeletal health: The past, present, and future 

Musculoskeletal (MSK) health has risen higher on the list of concerns for employer health plan sponsors. According to The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States, over 50% of Americans over age 18 experience MSK injury at some point in their lives, and 22% of the workforce loses work days due to MSK conditions. But while MSK conditions have long been a top driver of claims cost for employers, the problem has only gotten worse since the COVID-19 epidemic forced many employees out of the office and touched off a new era of remote working. 

The shift to hybrid or even fully remote work has changed the physical working conditions for employees. Many, if not most, offices are equipped with ergonomic furniture and hardware. According to a Forbes article 40% of employees who work from home do not have a dedicated desk; 20% work from their living room and 30% from their primary bedroom. The article also cites that 60% of those that work from home are not allowed to bring home equipment from their employer to their home office – that leaves each individual to bear the expense of a proper working setup.

This bears rethinking. The pain and physical limitations caused by MSK conditions can negatively impact well-being, morale, and productivity. Workers’ compensation claims for injuries can result from improper ergonomic setup in the workplace, whether that happens to be in an office or in the employee’s home. Many people with musculoskeletal disorders may be considered individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and workplace accommodations may be required under the ADA for employees with musculoskeletal disabilities.

For these and other reasons, it makes sense to put a program in place to address ergonomic safety for staff working remotely as well as those in the office. Most employers are already evaluating the cost impact of MSK conditions. To take it one step further, organizations should consider the return on investment of ergonomic assistance – your bottom line vs the cost to support employees’ physical work space to mitigate MSK risk.

What employers can do to help their employees while reducing MSK cost impact

Your ergonomic program will need to reflect both workforce needs and business realities. Start by listening to employees. Use surveys and communication channels that meet employees where they are to gather input. Evaluate needs from the employee perspective – and the organization’s ability to meet those needs. Create an ergonomic program that is easy to use, relevant, appealing, and based on discovery during employee need surveys.  Here are some program elements to consider:

• Communicate best practices and the importance of having proper workstation set-up in a home setting.  One key message is that ergonomic injuries can take up to twelve months to develop, so proactive interventions are critical.
• Reimburse employees for office items that will promote ergonomic health such as chairs, keyboards, mice, mouse pads, monitors at eye level, floor mats, etc.
• Digital solutions exist that engage employees in regular assessment of risk and empower them to address MSK issues early. Early detection can be the difference between getting ahead of conditions before catastrophic injury occurs. Some of the new tools in digital models are: artificial intelligence (AI) to assess functional movement, video monitoring, and self-reporting.

Musculoskeletal health conditions have been around for a long time and looking into the crystal ball of the future they do not seem to be going anywhere. Employers should recognize the impact of remote or hybrid work on these conditions and continue to monitor their claims, understand employee needs, and establish programs to address ergonomic assistance, leave, and compliance.