As the government states in the white paper’s executive summary, the UK is the only major economy that has seen its employment rate fall over the last five years; an issue that has largely arisen due to a growing number of people who are no longer in work due to long-term ill health.
To reverse this trend, Get Britain Working proposes significant reforms as part of a ‘new approach’ that the government argues is designed to ‘enable everyone to have the opportunity of secure, rewarding and fulfilling work’.
These include support for people to return to work if they are outside the workforce and help for people with a health condition so they can stay in employment.
The government’s plan for reform is broad ranging and includes many proposals that are relevant to the OSH audience, notably an independent review into the role of UK employers in promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.
‘Poor workforce health imposes large costs on employers, especially from sickness absence and turnover, while also making it harder for them to find the talent they need to grow and thrive,’ notes Get Britain Working.
‘There is also compelling evidence about the value of helping people with a health condition or disability to stay in work, including preventing them becoming economically inactive.’
The government says this independent review, which will run until next summer and will entail wide-ranging engagement with employers, employees, trade unions, health experts and disabled people and those with health conditions, will consider what more can be done to enable employers to:
Increase the recruitment and retention of disabled people and those with a health condition, including via a new jobs and careers service. Prevent people becoming unwell at work and promote good, healthy workplaces. Undertake early intervention for sickness absence and increase returns to work.
Source – ioshmagazine
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