A recent report highlights the need for significant changes to engage the hundreds of thousands of “economically inactive” individuals in Britain. It notes that one in five working-age individuals is not currently employed or searching for jobs, according to findings by Sir Charlie Mayfield, former head of John Lewis. The report emphasizes that responsibility for addressing this issue should be shared among employers, employees, and health services.
The report calls for employers to take proactive measures to prevent employee turnover, support individuals returning to work, and enhance accessibility for disabled workers. However, many businesses express concerns about their capacity to invest, particularly following increases in employer National Insurance Contributions and minimum wages in April. Without adequate resources, small businesses may struggle to provide necessary support for employees experiencing health challenges.
Hannah Barlow, a business owner, points out that mental health issues among young employees have increased absenteeism, impacting operations. While she supports the report’s call for shared responsibility in workplace health, she stresses that small enterprises have limited financial resources for occupational health interventions. Barlow emphasizes the need for pragmatic, realistic solutions to support both workers and businesses.
The report also addresses employees’ personal responsibility. It indicates that disengagement from work could lead to long-term dependency on welfare rather than recovery. Individual experiences, such as those of Katie Livings, who successfully managed her health conditions with workplace adjustments, reaffirm this point.
Concerns have been raised regarding a potential conflict between the report’s findings and upcoming changes in employment laws, particularly the Employment Rights Bill. Critics argue that the bill may complicate efforts to create flexible work arrangements essential for accommodating employees with health issues.
Additionally, the report advocates for reforming fit notes, which currently classify a high percentage of patients as unfit for work without sufficient assessment. It suggests implementing a Workplace Health Provision to streamline support for employees. The proposed reforms aim to improve case management and ultimately lessen the dependence on traditional fit notes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qp4yk0xdxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss