A new report by Sir Charlie Mayfield, co-chair of Keep Britain Working, details the development of Britain's first Workplace Health System. The initiative seeks to provide earlier and improved support for individuals with health conditions or disabilities in the workplace.
The plan aims to foster more inclusive workplaces and enhance health provision to prevent conditions from worsening and to assist people in returning to work after absences. It brings together employers, the NHS, local authorities, and other support services.
Currently, around 300,000 people with a health condition are reported to leave work each year. Data suggests that someone absent for four to six weeks has a 96 percent chance of returning, but this drops to less than half after a year. Since 2019, the number of working-age individuals out of work due to ill health has risen by 800,000, with an estimated annual cost to the economy of £212 billion.
Eleven regional Vanguards, including nine Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Cornwall Council, Hull City Council, and Worcestershire City Council, along with over 200 Vanguard organisations, are already testing the new system. Examples include Liverpool City Region testing return-to-work plans and Hull City Council creating a buyer's pool for SMEs to access occupational health services.
Sir Charlie Mayfield stated that Britain has treated economic inactivity as a welfare problem for too long, viewing it instead as a significant growth opportunity. He highlighted the absence of a Workplace Health System despite having a National Health Service for nearly 80 years. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden added that the programme aims to ensure good workplace health support is not exclusive to large companies.
An employer standard is being developed with the British Standards Institution, alongside plans for affordable support for smaller firms through pooled buying and insurance routes. The programme is also focusing on improving employer data regarding staff retention and prevention efforts. This autumn, a new employer data project and work and health prototype are being developed to address these gaps.