Despite significant attempts over the last decade to reverse the trend, more people than ever leaving the workforce due to ill health. There are currently 2.8 million people whose ill health is limiting their ability to participate in work. We lose around 185 million working days to ill health every year. A report released earlier this year by the Times Health Commission found that ill health is costing the economy dearly, to the tune of £150 billion a year.

A more prosperous future is only going to possible if we have workplaces where the health and wellbeing of employees is protected and promoted. A healthy workforce with lower absence rates, and where individuals return to work permanently and in good time is good for everyone. By improving the health of the workplace employers can realise the benefits for staff, the business and the country.

How can the next government enable this?

Healthier workplaces mean improved sick leave and access to occupational health as a basic right for all workers. It also means greater access to flexible working arrangements, improved pay, wellbeing services at work, and better training for line managers on supporting staff who have health conditions.

Employers are perfectly placed to have a positive impact on the health of their staff.  More needs to be done to incentivise businesses, especially small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), to provide core wellbeing services at work, occupational sick pay and occupational health support. Simple ideas such as ensuring all eligible staff have an NHS Health Check as part of their annual appraisal could yields significant benefits.

Good quality work is good for people’s health and should be encouraged wherever possible. But people who aren’t well enough to work due to ill health or caring responsibilities must not be sanctioned, stigmatised or plunged into poverty or financial hardship.