Employers Face £85bn in Costs Linked to Ill-Health Crisis
A report from Keep Britain Working warns that without a “fundamental shift” in business practices, an additional 600,000 people could leave the UK workforce due to sickness by 2030.
Key Findings from the Report
Led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, former John Lewis CEO, the review criticizes the current approach where individuals and the NHS primarily manage the growing ill-health problem in workplaces.
“The rising tide of ill health in UK workplaces cannot be addressed solely by individuals and the NHS.”
The report stresses the need for sickness to become a shared responsibility among employers, employees, and health services.
Financial Impact on Businesses
Businesses are estimated to face costs around £85 billion annually due to illness-related issues.
Recommendations
- Employers should lead decisive changes in how workplace health is managed.
- Greater collaboration is needed between businesses, employees, and health services.
- Preventative measures and support for employee health must be prioritized to avoid workforce losses.
Context and Urgency
The report highlights that without changes, the workforce will shrink substantially, jeopardizing economic stability and placing further strain on healthcare systems.
“To avoid losing hundreds of thousands more workers, businesses must fundamentally change their approach to ill health management.”
Author's summary: The Keep Britain Working report reveals that without urgent changes to workplace health management, UK employers face an enormous cost and workforce loss linked to rising illness levels.