Occupational Health: The Missing Piece of Britain's Health Puzzle?

I've been saying this for years. An article published in "The Times" recently (read here) highlighted our ongoing employment issues and skills gaps in the UK. However, it offered an interesting spin—one that I wholeheartedly agree with:

"Occupational health is the missing piece of Britain’s health jigsaw."

Improving the quality of and access to Occupational Health (OH) is key to a healthier, more productive population and economy.

The Current State of Affairs

In Britain, we are facing significant challenges:

• Millions of people are out of work due to ill health.
• Sickness absence rates are at a 20-year high.

We know that "good work" is massively influential on a person's physical, mental, and overall health. OH services, particularly high-quality ones, play a crucial role in preventing sickness absence and facilitating the quick and effective reintegration of employees who have been off work due to health issues.

The Underappreciated Value of Occupational Health

Despite its importance, OH is:

• Criminally underrated
• Massively misunderstood
• Often not at the quality standard it should be

Rather than leaving millions of people on the sidelines, waiting for appointments that cannot offer the necessary expertise or guidance for a successful return to work, we should be focusing on helping this population back into employment.

The Current System: A Flawed Approach

Here's a common scenario in the current system:

1. Employee is ill
2. Employee gets a fit note
3. Employee is left alone for the duration of the fit note
4. Employee extends the fit note
5. Repeat (x2/3)

A Strategic Approach to Occupational Health

To address these barriers and improve Britain's health, we need to:

• Double down on helping people back into work: This involves providing robust support systems that facilitate the return-to-work process.
• Increase science-backed, impactful, preventative systems: This includes organisational design, management training, and employee training to prevent health issues from arising in the first place.

Adding Occupational Health Assessment and Support to the Cycle

By integrating OH assessment and support into the current cycle, we can fix the system and ensure a safer, more effective process:

1. Employee is ill
2. Employee gets a fit note
3. Employee receives occupational health assessment and support
4. OH professionals develop a tailored return-to-work plan
5. Employee follows the plan with ongoing support and adjustments as needed
6. Safe, effective, and successful return to work

The Good News: Government Support

The government is exploring how tax incentives could help SMEs benefit from occupational healthcare. This isn't about desk massages, smoothie bikes, or lunchtime yoga. It's about impactful, expert healthcare, rehabilitation, and support to help those out of work due to ill health get back to work.

The Triple Win

Implementing high-quality OH services offers a triple win:

• A win for employers: Healthier employees mean fewer absences, increased productivity, and reduced costs.
• A win for employees: Access to necessary health services and support leads to better health outcomes and job satisfaction.
• A win for the economy: A healthier workforce contributes to economic growth and helps fill the skills shortages across various industries.

Conclusion: The Biggest Opportunity

Improving OH is the biggest opportunity to grow the economy and address skills shortages. By focusing on helping people back into work and implementing preventative systems, we can create a healthier, more productive population. It's time to recognise the value of OH and make it a priority in our efforts to fix Britain's health.

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If you are looking for expert support with your team's health and performance, whether it be training, return to work support or occupational health assessments, we can help. Get in touch here

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