The Work Foundation, in collaboration with Professor Stavroula Leka and the Centre for Organisational Health and Well-being at Lancaster University, have launched their ‘Stemming the tide: Healthier jobs to tackle inactivity’ research report. Based on longitudinal analysis of the Understanding Society survey, a survey of over 1,000 senior business leaders across Great Britain and roundtable discussions with employers and policymakers, the report provides the following recommendations to the Government:
- Ensure the Employment Rights Bill enshrines secure and flexible working from day one of employment
- Revise the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to reflect current modern workforce challenges, including psychosocial risks and mental health issues, and enhance enforcement of mental health risk assessments and preventive measures
- Lead a strategic transformation of occupational health services focused on improved and extended coverage for all workers, with mandatory provision by large employers
- Establish a UK-wide network of one-stop workforce health hubs, offering funded small and medium enterprises services and integrated with public health initiatives
- Strengthen and increase Statutory Sick Pay to promote retention and enable a phased return to work
- Examine the practicalities of extending the duty of care for employers, subsidising the cost of long-term sickness absence, and incentivising vocational rehabilitation
To access the report, visit the Work Foundation website:https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundation/publications/stemming-the-tide.
