The Government has launched a new “Keep Britain Working” review today to explore how to urgently support people with long-term illnesses or disabilities back into work, and to stay in work.
Former chairman of John Lewis Partnership, Sir Charlie Mayfield, will lead the Keep Britain Working Review to investigate the factors behind spiralling levels of inactivity, and how government and businesses can work together to turn this around, to get Britain working again.
The review will be the first of its kind, and following the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper, will be one part of the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth in partnership with businesses, drive up prosperity and raise living standards across the UK.
With over a third of working age people reporting a long-term health condition and around a quarter classed as disabled, the latter group being three times more likely to be not in work or looking for work, the scale of the challenge is stark.
Charlie Mayfield, who was also Chair of the British Retail Consortium and Chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, said:
Losing people from the workforce because of ill-health or disability is bad for many of the individuals, for the businesses employing them, and for the wider economy.
It’s a growing problem for us all and it’s one that’s more likely to be resolved by business and government working together.
I’m looking forward to engaging closely with businesses, government departments and the many organisations committed to improving our performance here.
The review, which will identify measures to help ill and disabled people get into work and stay in work, comes ahead of significant reforms to health and disability benefits expected in the Spring.
Alice Martin, Head of Research at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, a leading think tank for improving working lives in the UK:
“We welcome the Government’s Keep Britain Working review, but we should be under no illusions about the scale of the task facing Sir Charlie Mayfield and the Government.
“Economic inactivity due to long-term sickness has been above 2.7 million for 18 consecutive months and shows no sign of falling from near-record levels. Work Foundation longitudinal research on the UK’s working population shows nearly one in ten employees (9%) who experience a decline in health leave work – with most of this attrition happening in the first year highlighting the need for early intervention. Once someone leaves work due to ill health, it becomes progressively more difficult to support them back into employment.
“Employers understand the challenges facing their workforce, but many we have spoken to have expressed fear of getting it wrong when supporting workers with their physical and mental health challenges. And only around a third of businesses say they are introducing preventative measures to minimise work-related harms to health, such as assessing workplace mental health risks and implementing adjustments to manage workload, work pace and role clarity.
“The Mayfield Review has the opportunity to start a national reset on workforce health, but supporting employers to keep Britain working will not be cost free.
“At a time when employers are facing rising costs and Government spending is under pressure, the review must navigate a tricky balance in identifying support to both workers and employers to reduce the numbers leaving the labour market. Nearly half of businesses do not pay above statutory sick pay, despite the UK rate of £116.75 per week being one of the lowest in Europe. SMEs in particular are aware of the challenges but do not always have the resources or capacity to support people to stay in work whilst managing health conditions.”
