UK 'sliding into avoidable crisis', major review warns

THE UK is “sliding into an avoidable crisis”, the author of a major review on how to keep people in work has warned as he urged a reduced reliance on fit notes amid an “enormous” cost to employers from ill health among workers.

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Former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield’s report found that poor workplace health costs costing the country around 7% of GDP (gross domestic product). Sir Charlie said there is “broad recognition that Britain is facing a quiet but urgent crisis”, with ill health now one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity in the UK.

His review, published today, told of a culture of fear among workers around ill health, a lack of an effective or consistent support system for employers and employees in managing health, and structural challenges for disabled people.