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Showing posts from July, 2015

How do you solve a problem like productivity?

Productivity is proving a tough nut to crack. Worryingly, there is a glaring omission from the Government’s recently published Plan . It doesn’t mention the nation’s wellbeing.  A passing word is dedicated to plans for the devolution of health powers – but nothing on the relationship between wellness, work and wealth creation. This is perhaps unsurprising. In the lead up to May’s election the Health Secretary had a favourite catchphrase. He would tell us that "a strong NHS needs a strong economy” - economy first, health second. Actually it should be the other way round. We all know that our productivity at work suffers when we’re unwell, tired, stressed or distracted by the health of family members. Often our job is the primary source of our anxiety. During the working week we try to look after ourselves, eat fruit and vegetables, exercise, keep alcohol consumption down and go to bed early on school nights. But the strains of modern life do inevitably have an impact on our