The United Kingdom risks losing up to 600,000 workers over the next decade due to long-term health conditions unless there is “a fundamental shift” in how employers support staff wellbeing, a new report has warned.
According to the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH), more than 3.3 million working-age adults are projected to become economically inactive by 2035, a 26% increase that could cost the UK economy around £36 billion a year. The figure is equivalent to the entire population of Bristol leaving the workforce.
The report urges ministers and employers to rethink how workplaces can be used to improve health outcomes for people suffering from musculoskeletal issues, cardiovascular disease, and mental health problems.
William Roberts, chief executive of the RSPH, said: “The UK’s productivity crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing our economy and long-term health conditions in the workforce are a major factor in this. We need a fundamental shift in how we see the role of employers in keeping people healthy backed up by a national standard that covers all UK employees.”
The RSPH is calling for a series of measures to make workplaces more capable of supporting staff health. Among its key proposals is the creation of a **national health and work standard**, which would set out the minimum level of health support all employees should be entitled to across the country.
The findings come ahead of the *Keep Britain Working* review, due later this month. The independent review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to recommend how the government and businesses can reduce health-related economic inactivity and promote inclusive, healthy workplaces.
Sam Atwell, policy and research manager at the Health Foundation, emphasised the urgency of the situation: “The declining health of the working-age population is one of the biggest challenges facing government. The only sustainable way to meet this challenge is to keep people healthy and in work for longer. The Keep Britain Working review is a vital opportunity to change this.”
He added that the government should create “clearer standards” and expand access to specialist “caseworker” support to help employees remain in work.
Previous RSPH research found that nearly half of UK workers lack access to basic workplace health initiatives such as flu vaccinations and cardiovascular checks.
Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at the Health Foundation, said: “If we are to reduce economic inactivity and raise the employment rate, harnessing the role of employers will be essential. Doing so would not only benefit government but also employers themselves – through lower staff turnover, reduced presenteeism and higher productivity.”
He added that businesses should invest in their staff, particularly in line managers, as “it improves workers’ health and wellbeing while strengthening the overall health and performance of the business.”
A government spokesperson responded: “Good work is good for health and good for the economy. Through our 10-year health plan we’re shifting from sickness to prevention and helping frontline staff like GPs and physiotherapists to get patients the personalised support they need to get back into work.”
They added that the upcoming *Keep Britain Working* review would examine how employers can promote healthier, more inclusive workplaces. “Everyone we can help stay in or return to work isn’t just transforming their own life – they’re contributing to our communities, economic growth and building the healthier, more prosperous nation we all want to see.”
