Sir Charlie Mayfield sets out plan for Britain’s Workplace Health System

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, said: “Too many people fall out of work because of a health problem that could have been caught earlier, and too many employers have no way of knowing whether they are getting this right.

“This programme is working hand in hand with employers, mayors and local leaders to change that, so that good workplace health support is not just for big companies and it delivers growth across every postcode.”

Minister for State for Work and Health Ally McGovern, said: “Anyone can find themself with an illness that could stop them working.

“Getting help quickly rather than waiting for the problem to get worse is the right way to support good health and a strong economy.”

Paul Schreier, CEO of The Simplyhealth Group and member of the Keep Britain Working Advisory Panel, said: ”We welcome today’s progress update from the Keep Britain Working Review and its focus on prevention, early intervention, and helping people stay healthy in work.

“The report rightly recognises that the greatest opportunity lies in identifying challenges earlier and supporting people before they become detached from the labour market.

“Access to timely support is a critical part of that challenge. Our recent research found that more than half of employees have delayed seeking medical care in the last year, while employees reported losing an average of 2.1 working days because of delays or difficulties accessing healthcare.”

Schreier added: “Making it easier for people to access support earlier, alongside creating healthier and more inclusive workplaces, can help more people stay well, stay in work, and fulfil their potential.” 

Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said: “The Keep Britain Working team is to be commended on its ambition and clarity of approach towards building a British Workplace Health System to support avoidable work loss, help people with health conditions and disabilities to stay in work, or to achieve a sustainable return to work following a health-related absence.

“However, there is already a ready-made option, acknowledged in the report, which will enable employers to deliver on this – namely group income protection, which is insured long-term sick pay.

“The richness of the offering includes built-in support and health and wellbeing services such as fast-tracked access to counselling and physiotherapy, online GP services, an Employee Assistance Programme, nurse-led support, vocational rehabilitation, case management and so much more – all for an average cost of £27 a month per employee.”

Moxham added: “A group income protection policy can form a proven, reliable backbone to an employee health and wellbeing programme.

“When employers effectively use all the built in support – not just the insurance payout – these benefits help people stay in work, return to work faster, and avoid long-term absence.

“Those employers with group income protection already have tools in place that align with the report’s goals and will be ahead of the game in terms of meeting the Workplace Health Standard envisaged in the report and keeping their people in work.

“And for employers that don’t currently offer this support, it is an easy way for them to do so.”