UK ‘sliding into avoidable crisis’, major review into workplace sickness warns
The UK is “sliding towards an avoidable crisis” in jobs, the author of a major review has warned; Currently, one in five adults is out of the workforce.
A total of 2.8 million working-age people are economically inactive due to health conditions, according to the Keep Britain Labor review published on Wednesday.
Among those aged 16-34, the number of people unemployed due to long-term illness and suffering from mental health problems increased by 76 percent between 2019 and 2024.
Former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield has been appointed by the government to lead the report, which examines how authorities and businesses can work together to ensure people who are disabled or long-term ill find work.
Its report found that poor workplace health costs UK employers around £85bn a year.
He also warned that Britons’ inability to work due to health problems was costing the country around 7% of GDP (gross domestic product).
Sir Charlie said it was “widely recognized that the UK faces a quiet but urgent crisis”, with health problems one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity.
Its review described a culture of fear among workers about health issues, the lack of an effective and consistent support system for employers and employees in managing health, and structural challenges for people with disabilities.
Among the figures detailed in the document, Sir Charlie predicts that 800,000 more people are unemployed due to ill health than in 2019, and that this number could rise by a further 600,000 by 2030.
“Young adults have been hit hard,” he said, adding: “Of particular concern is the increase in the number of young people aged 16-34 with mental health problems who are economically inactive due to long-term illness, increasing by 190,000 (76%) between 2019 and 2024.”
The former retail boss, who published the document, said: “Britain is heading towards an avoidable crisis. Poor health has become one of the biggest brakes on growth and opportunity. But it is not inevitable.
“Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference by preventing health problems where possible, supporting people when they occur and helping them return to work. If we keep Britain working, everyone wins – people, employers and the government.”
It proposed a new approach in which responsibility for health at work was shared between employers, employees and health services, rather than being left to the worker and the NHS.
While Sir Charlie said employers must do more to help their employees, he warned workers must also do their bit.
He wrote: “Work can be challenging. Setbacks are a part of life. Health and work are not always easy partners, but they reinforce each other.”
The so-called review was officially launched in January and was tasked with examining “increasing levels of inactivity” as ministers looked into how to get people back to work.
Among its recommendations, the review called for the adoption of a workplace health provision, which it described as a non-clinical case management service that supports employees and line managers throughout the healthy work lifecycle.
This approach, which offers support, advice and early intervention, could be integrated with the NHS App and could reduce or replace the need for the existing compliance note.
The government has expressed interest from more than 60 employers, including the British Beer and Pub Association, Burger King, John Lewis and Google UK, to become lead employers to pioneer the new approach across the board.
Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden said Sir Charlie’s message was “very clear: keeping people healthy and working is the right thing to do and essential for economic growth.”
He added: “Business is our partner in building a productive workforce because when businesses retain talent and reduce workplace health issues, everyone wins.
“That’s why we’re taking action now to launch employer-led pioneers as part of a plan for change that spurs economic growth and opportunity across the country.”
