London to host world's healthiest workplaces contest

Health programmes in work to be rewarded at summit.

Businesses across the UK are being encouraged to enter the world's healthiest workplace contest, as set up by the Cigna Foundation and due to take place in London as part of the Global Healthy Workplace Awards and Summit in April.

The event aims to draw attention to the fact that around 140 million working days each year are lost due to sickness absence, a number that could potentially be reduced if offices clean up their act.

For the first time, guidelines advocated by the World Healthcare Organisation (WHO) will be used to judge the entries, with recognition going towards those workplaces with the most innovative solutions and programmes in place.

 Dame Carol Black, UK national director for health and work, will be among the experts sitting on the judging panel, with other representatives from around the world making up her colleagues.

The best practices could potentially be reworked if necessary and then replicated across the world.