Romsey businesses urged to prioritise workplace health at chamber event
Romsey’s business leaders gathered to tackle wellbeing at a packed chamber workshop, with experts warning sedentary habits and poor mental health are eroding productivity. The day-long event, hosted by the Romsey & District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featured practical advice from physiotherapists, HR consultants and charity leaders on reducing workplace burnout.
ROMESEY, Hampshire — Local employers were handed a wake-up call on Thursday as the Romsey & District Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted its first Work Place Wellbeing Day, drawing over 70 small business owners, directors and managers to the White Horse Hotel.
The event, organised by Rita Kohli, vice president of the chamber and managing director of The Mortgage Stop, aimed squarely at the “people behind local businesses”—a demographic often overlooked in wellness discussions. Kohli said the initiative was born from repeated member feedback about rising absenteeism and presenteeism linked to stress and physical inactivity.
| Wellbeing Threat | Industry Impact | Cost to SMEs |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary work | Increased musculoskeletal disorders | £2,000+ per employee annually in lost productivity |
| Unaddressed mental health | Higher staff turnover | £3,500 per leaver in recruitment and training |
Claire Young, a specialist personal trainer, kicked off the morning with a live demonstration of micro-exercises designed to counter prolonged sitting. Using a standing desk, she guided attendees through five-minute routines targeting neck, shoulder and lower back strain—movements she said could be done between meetings without disrupting workflow.
💡 Pro Tip
Schedule movement breaks at the top of every hour. Set a timer for two minutes of shoulder rolls, seated leg lifts or standing stretches—no equipment needed.
Carmon Morgan, from Romsey Chiropractor Clinic, followed with a blunt assessment: “Your chair is killing you.” Morgan’s presentation dissected the hidden costs of poor posture, from compressed spinal discs to chronic headaches, and urged employers to invest in ergonomic assessments before symptoms escalate. She singled out standing desks as a low-cost upgrade, citing studies showing a 34% reduction in upper-body discomfort within eight weeks.
📋 By The Numbers
- 34% — Reduction in upper-body discomfort after switching to standing desks
- £3,500 — Average cost to replace one employee due to unaddressed mental health issues
The afternoon shifted to mental health, with Jon Lindsay and Stuart Parks of Man Down charity sharing raw testimony about their own struggles with depression and anxiety. Their message was simple: culture matters. “You can have yoga classes and fruit bowls, but if your team doesn’t feel safe to speak up, nothing changes,” Lindsay said. Stephenie Fosh, managing director of Pure HR, then outlined how the upcoming Employee Rights Bill could expose businesses to new liabilities if they fail to act on wellbeing policies.
- 📊 1 in 4 SMEs in Hampshire lack a formal mental health policy
- 🔍 60% of workplace injuries in office settings are posture-related
- ⚠️ Businesses with fewer than 250 staff face steeper financial penalties under new health and safety enforcement rules
Natasha Hartwell, a nutritionist specialising in gut health and menopause, closed the day with a nutrition workshop. She linked poor diet to energy crashes, citing research that imbalanced gut bacteria can reduce cognitive performance by up to 15% during afternoon slumps. Hartwell provided a list of affordable, office-friendly snacks—oatcakes, nuts and dark chocolate—to sustain focus without heavy carbs.
Key Points
- ✅ Move every hour: Five-minute routines can reverse 80% of posture-related strain
- ⚡ Ergonomic assessments cost under £100 per employee but save £2,000+ in lost productivity
- 💡 Create a “speak-up” policy: Train managers to recognise early signs of burnout before absences occur
Mayor of Romsey, Cllr Russell Theron, capped the event by pledging chamber support for a new wellbeing grant fund, offering micro-grants of up to £500 to local businesses implementing health initiatives. “This isn’t about luxury perks,” Theron said. “It’s about survival.”
- Start small — Audit one workstation for ergonomic flaws this week
- Train a champion — Appoint a wellbeing rep to coordinate lunchtime walks and mental health first-aid
- Measure impact — Track sick days and staff feedback to refine policies
The chamber has announced a follow-up “Wellbeing Check-Up” session in October, open to all members, with discounted access for first-time attendees.