(3 min read)
The UK Government is focussed on trying to reduce sickness related job losses and boost productivity. It considers increasing the use of occupational health (OH) in the workplace as one of the keys measures in trying to achieve that goal. Following on from the Working Better Consultation, it set up the new Occupational Health Taskforce which will try to improve awareness of the use of OH and will produce a voluntary OH framework for business expected to be published in summer 2024.
According to figures recently published by the UK Government, only 28% of employers in Britain provide access to an Occupational Health (OH) service. The UK Government is committed to increasing the role of employers in addressing issues around ill-health in the workforce and has recently announced measures it is taking to tackle this and boost the use of OH in the workplace. It remains to be seen whether improved access to OH will have the UK Government's desired effect of reducing sickness related job losses and boosting productivity.
Voluntary Framework for Employers
More needs to be done to enable businesses and employees to engage with, and benefit from, OH. That was one of the key conclusions from last year's consultation on the role of the UK Government, employers and OH providers in improving productivity and preventing ill-health related unemployment. As a result of that consultation, the UK Government confirmed its intention to take forward various actions, including:
- Developing a voluntary framework for OH provision/intervention for employers; this will set out the minimum level of OH intervention employers could adopt in order to help improve employee health at work and will vary depending on the size of the business/workforce.
- Considering/developing voluntary national workplace health and disability standards. This would serve as best practice guidance for employers so that they are informed and equipped to support people with health conditions and disabilities stay and succeed in the workplace.
- Considering options for a small and medium enterprise (SME) group purchasing framework so that SMEs can pool their purchasing to make OH provisions more economically viable for them and accessible to their workforces.
Establishment of new OH Taskforce
In response to the Working Better Consultation, the Government has announced the establishment of a new OH Taskforce led by Dame Carole Black. The taskforce aims to improve the access and uptake of OH in the workplace by:
- Raising employer awareness on the use and benefits of quality OH, particularly, in retention of employees in the workplace.
- Encouraging and empowering employers to take proactive steps to improve employee health.
- Removing barriers for access to OH, including financial barriers for SMEs; and
- Complementing other existing initiatives regarding health and disability in the workplace.
The taskforce will produce a voluntary occupational health framework setting out minimum levels of OH provision needed so that businesses can better support workers returning to work after sick leave and to reduce sickness related job losses. This is expected to be published in summer 2024.
