Government and employers should get behind Mayfield report to tackle UK workforce health
Responding to the final report from Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, David Finch, Assistant Director for Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said:
‘Sir Charlie Mayfield has delivered a landmark report that sets out a fresh approach for addressing the UK’s growing workforce health challenge. Now it needs government and employers to get behind it.
‘With one in five working-age adults in the UK having a work-limiting health problem, the health of the UK workforce is an urgent economic and political priority. The report sets out actions to prevent ill-health, support people to stay in work, and help employers to build healthier workplaces. This will only succeed if the government puts the right incentives in place to make a real difference.
‘We know many employers recognise their employees’ health issues and want to help. However, they do not always know how to respond, which is why improving the quality of and access to health support for their employees at work is key.
‘Today’s report places an additional ask of employers, but if embraced, they could significantly reduce the time and effort currently spent managing absence, ill health, and staff turnover, preventing thousands of people leaving work in the first place.
‘Our Commission for Healthier Working Lives, outlined a vision for a more preventative approach to improving workplace health which we are glad to see reflected in the Review. 'Caseworker'-led support is sorely lacking in UK workplaces and that wider access could prevent tens of thousands of people leaving work, saving the taxpayer billions.
‘The only sustainable way to meet the growing workforce health challenge and improve individual’s lives is to keep people healthy and in work from the outset.’
Notes to editors
Action for healthier working lives was the final report from the Health Foundation’s Commission for Healthier Working Lives. It concluded that workplace strategies focused on prevention, early intervention, retention, and rapid rehabilitation are likely to deliver more effective and sustainable health outcomes over time.
Media contact
Jessica Clinkett
jessica.clinkett@health.org.uk
020 7664 4647