Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, widely supports the idea of a national occupational health service. She thinks this plan can supercharge the UK economy. Keir Starmer’s incoming government will face plenty of pressure to address the dual crises of workforce health and productivity. Additionally, nearly 3 million people are out of work due to long-term illness, fueling the urgency of this crisis.
The government has promised the establishment of a national occupational health service. It will be paid for by a £2 billion annual skills levy on the country’s largest employers. This new initiative is a much-welcomed move to challenge the increasing rates of economic inactivity. Currently, more than 9 million people aged 16 to 64 are unable to fully engage in the labor market. The report illuminates one of the largest contributing factors to this trend—the increase in mental health crises. This surge is most evident among young adults.
Sasjkia Otto, author of the report advocating for this service, stated that the current moment presents a “generational opportunity” for the government to enhance occupational health support across the nation. Otto made the point that most employers spend a fortune trying to keep their workforces healthy. Too often they see little return due to the shortcomings in our current system.
“Many employers spend a lot of money trying to keep their workforce healthy. But the UK’s failing occupational health system means they do not see return on their investment.” – Sasjkia Otto
Only 45% of UK workers now use occupational health services provided by their employers. This continues to leave countless would-be angel investors without the support they desperately need. The Fabian Society report indicates that implementing a universal at-work health service could greatly improve job retention rates for those at risk of leaving the workforce due to health issues.
The government has given Sir Charlie Mayfield, former head of John Lewis, a crucial job. With those insights, he’ll develop recommendations for a pioneering redesign of occupational health services. He noted that the findings of the Fabian Society’s report resonate with the conclusions drawn from the Keep Britain Working review.
“Their diagnosis of the situation, and the impact it is having, resonates and reinforces many of the findings of the Keep Britain Working review.” – Sir Charlie Mayfield
The report vigorously supports the principle that funding should mainly be derived from the most polluting ten percent of companies. Yet these companies are uniquely positioned to have a deeper impact on this campaign. The government can do more than just address the causes of economic inactivity. This is critically important for people who may otherwise exit the labor market because of poor health.
Rachel Reeves faces increasing scrutiny ahead of her first, scheduled for her autumn budget. She could recommend ways to ensure that employers make bigger investments in occupational health services.
In response to these challenges, a government spokesperson remarked on their ongoing commitments:
“We are taking action to get Britain back to health and into work by giving people the skills and opportunities they need as part of our Plan for Change.” – Government spokesperson
The proposed new national occupational health service – which would be a terrific improvement – is a big step. It largely hinges on the recognition that keeping workers healthy increases economic productivity. McAnea emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating:
“Establishing a national system to boost the economy is a no-brainer. It’s a win for workers, their employers and the UK economy as a whole.” – Christina McAnea