There has been lots going on around employment and health recently. Some quick thoughts from myself and Luisa on the new fit notes pilots announced by DWP, and what a more effective and integrated system could look like.

The Health Foundation@healthfoundation.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In this recent blog, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ and @luisaptg.bsky.social​ look at government efforts to make the fit notes system more effective, and what could help ensure success. Read more⬇️ https://bit.ly/4fbnJdX

Responding to the publication of Alan Milburn’s interim report on NEETs, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ says its findings are a clear-eyed account of how ill health, inadequate support and a lack of opportunities are holding over a million young people back. Read the response ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4nQThYF

Healthy life expectancy as a measure of the country’s health has attracted recent debate. Though not without its limitations, it nonetheless provides a valuable insight into the lived experience of a population whose health is declining, writes Andrew Mooney. Read more⬇️ https://bit.ly/4dJPMPh

The Interim Report of the review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism has been published today. On first read through I think it helpfully parses what is known and what is not yet known on prevalence & service demand for these conditions assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69cbdb...

New analysis today from @healthfoundation.bsky.social Recent data shows nearly a million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) How is ill health contributing to youth worklessness? And what can the government do about it?

New stats today show slight increase in the numbers of 16-24-year-olds not earning or learning - driven by higher unemployment. We have new analysis coming shortly showing how poor health has become increasingly important factor affecting NEET young people - could indicate greater issues ahead!

The Health Foundation@healthfoundation.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Responding to latest ONS data on young people not in education, employment or training, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ calls for action on two fronts: early intervention in schools, and support and suitable routes back for young people already out of work or education. Read more​⬇️ https://bit.ly/4sg8IuE

Was great to speak with @zoegrunewald.bsky.social last week about the Keep Britain Working review, and what employers and government can be doing to support people with health conditions to thrive in work.

The Health Foundation@healthfoundation.bsky.social · 9mo ago

What can employers do to keep people with health conditions in work? And what actions can government take to enable this? @swjatwell.bsky.social​ reflects on the Mayfield Review with @zoegrunewald.bsky.social​ ⬇️

Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working report out today. It sets out a clear case for better workplace health support, and a call to action for employers to lead the charge. V. important with over 4 million workers now with work-limiting health conditions www.gov.uk/government/p...

Keep Britain Working Review: Final report

Keep Britain Working is an independent review of the role of employers in tackling health based economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.

gov.uk

With Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working Review reporting soon, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ explores the labour market health challenge and how government can respond to build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable employment system. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4oerKjq

Latest Access to Work stats are out today They show continued growth in the number of awards and spend, about 70% increase in both since 2019. This is not hugely surprising: there's now 4.1m workers with a work-limiting health condition, up from 2.4m a decade ago www.gov.uk/government/s...

Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025

gov.uk

New analysis from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social today. Statutory sick pay is being tweaked in the Employment Rights Bill, but these (welcome) reforms won't go far enough to protect workers financially The below sets out the context and some ideas for change. www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...

Making statutory sick pay work

This analysis explains why current satutory sick pay reforms, though significant, do not go far enough and outlines a path to a better system.

health.org.uk

‘Mayfield’s report argued that action to stop people leaving work when they first fell sick would make much more difference than reforms to the welfare system aimed at long-term benefits claimants.’ on.ft.com/4hoqxSu UK employers ‘find it cheaper to replace sick staff than retain them’

UK employers ‘find it cheaper to replace sick staff than retain them’

Report by former John Lewis boss calls for stronger incentives for employers to invest in workforce health

on.ft.com

The first report from Sir Charlie Mayfield's "Keep Britain Working" review has landed this morning. A very busy week in the health and employment space. A first scan through sees it echoes a lot from the recent @healthfoundation.bsky.social Commission. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Keep Britain Working Review: Discovery

gov.uk

There was a lot to chew over in yesterday's green paper. There are real signs that the government wants to move towards an 'early intervention' approach for supporting people with health conditions into work But the bit cuts to PIP/UC eclipse these positives www.health.org.uk/press-office...

I'd really encourage you to read this short article if you are remotely interested in the rise of mental-health related work inactivity - very thoughtful from @annieirvine.bsky.social www.health.org.uk/features-and... (cont)

Want to understand what has been happening to working age mental health? Read @healthfoundation.bsky.social analysis below. Across multiple data sources, rates have nearly doubled in 10 years for the 16-34 age group. Lower qualifications associated with ⬆️ rates www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...

Mental health trends among working-age people

With the mental health of working-age people appearing to be getting worse, we look more closely at what the trends are telling us.

health.org.uk

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.

Wes Streeting: there is overdiagnosis of mental health conditions

Good to see this - it reflects one of seven recommendations from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social's Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The government must move beyond short-term fixes and invest in long-term support for work and health. More in the Commission’s final report:

Action for healthier working lives

The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for long-term change.

health.org.uk

Stef Benstead@stefbenstead.bsky.social · last yr.

"The work and pensions secretary will promise a “right to try” guarantee for those currently on benefits to take on work but return to previous benefits if the job does not work out, without having to go through a gruelling reassessment process." www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

📣 NEW: Final report by our Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The Commissioners say government and employers must act early when health issues arise – not wait until people have already left work ⬇️ buff.ly/EfkpBQu

Action for healthier working lives

The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term…

buff.ly

Out today: The final report of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives. Ahead of the forthcoming DWP green paper, the report calls for a radical shift from late-stage intervention to early support, before poor health forces people out of work www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...

Action for healthier working lives

The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term chan...

health.org.uk

Speaking at our event Anita Charlesworth says key to stemming health-related benefit spending is reducing flows onto benefits. This means: - keeping people attached to their employer if they experience ill-health. - make welfare system less binary (in/out of work). Bigger role of part-time work.

📢 Are you or someone you know considering a career in the think tank sector? We're hosting an online webinar for those interested in the sector, aimed particularly at those from under-represented groups. Find out more and sign up here👇 https://buff.ly/3CYMwky

Another excellent report from our colleagues from @employmentstudies.bsky.social It does the tricky job of unpicking international data on work outcomes for people with health conditions. It highlights - with policy discussion - that the UK has lots of room to improve.

Institute for Employment Studies @employmentstudies.bsky.social · 2y ago

📢New research! Our latest report for the Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives, supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social, reveals that the UK’s ill health ‘employment gap’ is among the widest in the EU. Read the report: bit.ly/3EdbqNL 1/

Striking how increasing rates of poor mental health, particularly among younger people, are broadly consistent across different data sources with different methodologies (including clinical scales & use of health services), in this useful comparison from @healthfoundation.bsky.social

Some fascinating and timely new analysis from my colleague Myriam Vriend unpicking some of the trends in mental health among people of working-age. www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...

Mental health trends among working-age people

With the mental health of working-age people appearing to be getting worse, we look more closely at what the trends are telling us.

health.org.uk

Interesting thread looking at @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social helpful article unpicking what's going on with inactivity and the health-related benefit caseload. TLDR: health trends are mixed, and both behaviour and reporting influenced by 'push' and 'pull' of labour markets and welfare system.

Ben Baumberg Geiger@benbgeiger.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Britain’s illness-related inactivity crisis looks increasingly like a mirage" - great piece www.ft.com/content/1409.... But @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social goes wrong towards the end... 🧵

This is a great piece of work from our friends at the Work Foundation. Aside from lots on the risk factors for leaving the labour market, it very helpfully sets out a framework for policy intervention - from healthier workplaces to better ways of managing absence and work returns ⬇️

Asli Atay@asliatay.bsky.social · 2y ago

Our report on tackling economic inactivity is finally out and it’s one we’ve been working on for a while.🥳 The key takeaway? Flexibility, autonomy, and support during the first year after ill health onset are game changers for keeping people in work. A ~long~ thread to unpack our key findings🧵

I saw this clip earlier. Although I am not sure I agree that 'no one really knows what is happening', it is rare (and good!) to see a commentator talk about the problem of poor quality work (and not just indulging in benefit-bashing, or sweeping statements about NHS waiting lists)

Farrukh@implausibleblog.bsky.social · 2y ago

Rory Stewart, "We're in an unbelievable hole.. 9.2 million economically inactive people" "Part of the problem might be that we've created a really rubbish working environment.. Jobs are poorly paid.. Stressful.. People in the UK work longer hours than they do in Europe, for less money"

Lots expected in today's employment white paper. One less eye-catching announcement will be a new focus on retention and inclusive work, as the Commission for Healthier Working Lives has called for. Some insights on the challenge, from our partners @employmentstudies.bsky.social ⬇️

📢New research! Investigating the case for not just more jobs but *better quality* jobs. Our IES report for the Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives finds that poor job quality threatens the health of the UK workforce. (1/2) bit.ly/3CH4uYB @employmentstudies.bsky.social