A new report, headed by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former boss of John Lewis, states that poor health in the workplace is costing UK employers around £85 billion a year, and that employees unable to work due to ill health cost the country the equivalent of 7% of GDP.
The report cited ill health as now being one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity, causing the lack of productivity in the UK. He proposes a new approach where the employee, employer and NHS have a shared responsibility for health at work, rather than the employer being left out of the equation.
While he believes employers need to do more for employees in terms of health, he also warned that workers must do their own part, writing: “Work can be demanding. Setbacks are part of life. Health and work are not always easy partners, but they are mutually reinforcing.” He said that while supportive workplaces matter, “so does personal responsibility,”.
Mayfield said that ‘fit notes’, often known as sick notes, as “often problematic,” becoming a “barrier to contact, further embedding distance between employer and employee”.
The report stated that 93% of fit notes in England deem the patient “not fit for work” and are “often” extended without further consultation, and the employer often feels unable to push back against this.
The Government has said for some time that too many people are out of work and the report backs that up. There are 800,000 more people out of work due to health problems now than there were in 2019 and, the review states, “without decisive action to address this trend, projections show we are on track to add another 600,000 by 2030.”
Those aged 16 to 34-year-olds with a mental health condition who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness is “particularly concerning,” rising by 190,000 (76%) between 2019 and 2024, the peak COVID years. It also stated that the barriers to work for disabled people are “particularly stark”, with only 53% of this group currently in work.
The report believes this crisis can be averted, and among its recommendations called for the introduction of a workplace health provision that supports employees and managers at the same time. It said this approach, offering support and advice and early intervention, could be integrated with the NHS App and reduce or replace the need for the current fit note.
Without the change, the economy will likely continue to stagnate, will little growth or increase in productivity.