Keep Britain Working Review: Tackling Ill-Health and Disability in the Workplace | Consensus HR
📰 HR Update – Keep Britain Working: Tackling Ill-Health and Disability in the Workplace
By Matthew Chilcott, Owner – Consensus HR
www.consensushr.com
The Keep Britain Working Review – Final Report Released
The final report of the Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, has now been published, calling for urgent action to address what he describes as a “quiet but urgent crisis” in the UK labour market.
Over one in five working-age adults are currently out of the workforce — a figure driven largely by ill-health and disability. The report calls for a “new deal” between employers, employees and Government, with employers taking a leading role in improving workplace health and retention.
“Employers will need to do more,” Mayfield says, as they are “uniquely placed to act on prevention, to support rehabilitation, and to remove barriers for disabled people.”
The Cost of Ill-Health to UK Businesses
According to the report, UK employers lose an average of £120 per day in profit for every sickness absence, with total costs estimated at £85 billion a year in lost output and ill-health-related expenses.
With 150 million working days lost annually, businesses face significant disruption, reduced capacity, and higher unplanned costs — highlighting the urgent need for proactive HR and wellbeing strategies.
At Consensus HR, we support employers across all sectors to manage sickness absence fairly and effectively, while ensuring legal compliance under the Equality Act 2010 and promoting a culture of prevention and support.
Key Recommendations from the Review
The report proposes a three-year “vanguard phase” to deliver three key changes that aim to “keep Britain working”:
Healthy Working Lifecycle Standard
Develop a certified national standard that defines best practice for preventing sickness absence, improving return-to-work outcomes, and supporting disabled employees in the workplace.
Workplace Health Provision (WHP)
Introduce new “stay in work” and “return to work” plans to help employees remain engaged and supported during health challenges.
Workplace Health Intelligence Unit (WHIU)
Create a central body to collect and analyse data, promote continuous improvement, and provide leadership on workplace health across the UK.
This phased approach will first work with willing employers and providers to establish evidence-based practices before scaling nationwide over the next three to seven years.
Matthew Chilcott – Owner, Consensus HR – Comments:
“This report highlights what we at Consensus HR see daily — that health, wellbeing, and inclusion are central to workplace productivity. Employers can no longer view health management as a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a legal and commercial necessity.
By proactively managing attendance, supporting employees with health conditions, and removing barriers to participation, businesses not only protect themselves from risk but also retain skilled and experienced team members.
Our role as HR professionals is to help organisations put the right frameworks in place — from robust absence management policies to mental health support plans — ensuring compliance and care go hand in hand.”
Supporting Businesses to Stay Healthy and Compliant
At Consensus HR, we partner with businesses to:
Reduce sickness absence through clear, fair, and consistent procedures
Implement mental health and wellbeing initiatives
Support line managers with practical training on managing health-related issues
Ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010, Health and Safety at Work Act, and ACAS Code of Practice
You can learn more about how we help businesses prevent people problems by visiting:
👉 www.consensushr.com
✅ Key Takeaway
The Keep Britain Working report reinforces that workplace health is not only a wellbeing issue — it’s a business imperative. Employers who take early, proactive steps will be best placed to thrive in a changing workforce landscape.
Author: Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, BA (Hons)
Owner – Consensus HR | Your Outsourced HR & Employment Law Partner
📞 01438 576750 | ✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.consensushr.com
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