The joint initiative, developed in response to Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, aims to help people stay in work, prevent health-related job losses, and build healthier, more resilient workplaces across the country.
A Growing Health and Workforce Crisis
The landmark review, published this week, highlights the scale of the challenge facing the UK labour market:
- One in five working-age adults are now out of the labour force – 800,000 more than in 2019 due to health issues.
- Ill-health preventing people from working costs 7% of GDP, equivalent to nearly 70% of all income tax receipts.
- Only 53% of disabled adults are in employment, trailing behind leading OECD nations.
- UK employers lose an estimated £85 billion a year through sickness, staff turnover, and lost productivity.
New Employer-Led Health ‘Vanguards’
In response, the government will partner with employers to reshape how health and disability are managed in the workplace. The initiative will launch a series of employer-led “Vanguards”, which will test and develop evidence-based approaches over the next three years.
These vanguards will focus on reducing sickness absence, improving return-to-work rates, and increasing disability employment. The lessons learned will contribute to a voluntary “Healthy Working Lifecycle” standard, which the government hopes to certify by 2029.
The plan builds on a broader government pledge to invest £1 billion a year in disability employment support by the end of the decade as part of its Plan for Change, designed to give people the skills and opportunities to move from poverty into stable employment.
‘Ill-Health Has Become One of the Biggest Brakes on Growth’
Sir Charlie Mayfield, who led the review, said the nation is “sliding into an avoidable crisis” caused by rising levels of ill-health.
“Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference by preventing health issues where possible, supporting people when they arise, and helping them return to work,” he said.
“If we keep Britain working, everyone wins – people, employers, and the state.”
Sir Charlie will co-lead a new Vanguard Taskforce with government ministers, bringing together employers, health experts, and disability advocates to develop and scale up effective interventions.
Health Leaders Back Collaboration
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, welcomed the review and its focus on prevention.
“Better workplace health support benefits individuals, the NHS, and the wider economy,” he said. “By working together across sectors, we can stem the flow into economic inactivity and unlock the potential of a healthier, more prosperous population.”
Taylor noted that initiatives such as Health and Growth Accelerators and WorkWell are already demonstrating the benefits of closer collaboration between health services and employers.
“The recommendations offer a clear path toward reducing economic inactivity,” he added. “Employers have a vital role to play in shifting the focus from treatment to prevention by creating healthier workplaces and supporting staff to stay well and in work.”
