Fixing the Pain Gap

Key Takeaways

• Construction workers are at high risk of chronic pain due to the physically demanding nature of their jobs.
• Chronic pain management benefits may help reduce opioid dependence, boost productivity, and foster a supportive work environment.
• Employers play a critical role in supporting these employees through access to pain management benefits, flexible work arrangements, and education.
• Offering chronic pain management benefits demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, leading to increased satisfaction and retention.

Construction is notorious for its physically demanding nature, and its workers are at higher risk for injuries that can lead to chronic pain, especially MSK injuries. As a result, those in construction often end up with higher healthcare utilization, challenges with presenteeism, higher risk for substance use disorders, and a poor quality of life, including mental health issues.

Construction benefits need to address these specific challenges to be useful.

Sadly, as digital physical therapy solutions have made their way into benefit plans over the past 5 years, they’ve failed to help those struggling with chronic pain improve access to pain care. Rates of opioid misuse, mental health challenges, employee retention and other challenges surrounding chronic pain have not improved.

For employees with ongoing pain to truly be supported, a more comprehensive approach is necessary.

Benefits that focus on holistically managing chronic pain digitally can enhance the overall well-being of these employees by tackling the physical, emotional, and social aspects of their pain.

Offering employee benefits that address chronic pain management can be a game-changer for construction companies. Here’s how:

Boosting Productivity

Chronic pain can interfere with an employee’s ability to concentrate and perform their job effectively. In fact, chronic pain is associated with an average loss of 5.4 hours of work productivity per week. Digital chronic pain management programs can help workers identify healthy strategies that enable them to make it through their workday – things like gentle stretches, mindfulness and meditation, and breathing exercises that can calm the nervous system and reduce pain’s interference with their daily activities. By offering access to chronic pain management programs, employers can help workers better manage their pain, leading to increased productivity and reduced absenteeism.

Addressing Mental Health Challenges

Chronic pain is closely connected to mental health. If an employee is living with chronic pain, there is a high probability that they are also dealing with feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or isolation. Offering a chronic pain management benefit, rather than just digital physical therapy, can help address those issues by including cognitive behavioral therapy tailored to those living with chronic pain.

Reducing Opioid Dependence

Historically, opioids have been a common treatment for chronic pain. However, this has led to a crisis of opioid use disorder that disproportionately affects the construction workforce. By providing benefits that support alternative chronic pain management strategies, employers can help workers make smart choices when it comes to pain management prescriptions.

Fostering a Supportive Work Environment

Chronic pain can come with a lot of stigma. For employees, job security may drive them to push through the pain or, even worse, work under the influence of substances just to get through the day.

Employers can play a critical role in reducing stigma by providing a supportive work environment for employees living with chronic pain. This includes listening to employees, preventing work-related chronic pain, and determining reasonable accommodations for those who are experiencing a pain flare-up. Additionally, educating all employees on the challenges associated with chronic pain can foster empathy and reduce stigma.

Improving Employee Retention

Living with chronic pain can be a significant challenge. When employers offer support through chronic pain management benefits, they demonstrate a commitment to their employees’ well-being. This can lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention. Chronic pain programs that address the physical and emotional causes of persistent pain can be particularly impactful.

The Bottom Line

Construction is an essential industry for our economy, but one that will continue to be physically demanding and haunted by those demands. By offering a digital chronic pain management benefit, construction companies can boost productivity, provide alternatives to over-the-counter and prescription medications, foster a supportive work environment, and improve employee retention. It’s a win-win for both the company and its employees.

Actionable Steps

• Research chronic pain management programs that could be offered as an employee benefit.
• Develop a plan for educating managers and employees on chronic pain and its impact on the workplace.
• Consider partnering with a vendor that specializes in chronic pain management to offer a comprehensive program.
• Review existing policies to ensure they support employees with chronic pain, such as flexible work arrangements and accommodations.

By taking these steps, construction companies can support their workers in managing chronic pain, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce.