Employers Face £85bn Annual Costs Due to Ill-Health Crisis
A new review by Keep Britain Working warns that without a fundamental change in how businesses handle employee health, an additional 600,000 people could leave the workforce due to sickness by 2030.
Key Findings from Keep Britain Working Report
Led by former John Lewis CEO Sir Charlie Mayfield, the report criticizes the current approach where individuals and the NHS primarily manage the growing health challenges in UK workplaces.
The report states that sickness should become a shared responsibility among employers, employees, and health services.
It estimates that businesses currently face around £85 billion annually in costs related to illness.
Call for Fundamental Shift
- Without employer leadership in addressing workplace ill health, 600,000 more employees might exit the labor market by 2030.
- The report urges businesses to join health services and workers in collaboratively managing health to reduce the burden.
Implications for UK Workplaces
Adopting shared responsibility for sickness could ease the pressure on the NHS and reduce significant costs incurred by businesses due to ill health, helping sustain the workforce for the future.
Author’s Summary
This report highlights an urgent need for employers to transform their approach to workplace health to prevent a major workforce decline and reduce £85bn yearly costs linked to sickness.