The Health Crisis Facing UK Workplaces
Since its publication in March 2025, the Keep Britain Working Review has become a critical reference point for UK employers. It addresses one of the country’s most pressing workforce challenges: the sharp rise in long-term sickness-related economic inactivity.
Nearly 800,000 working-age adults are now out of work due to long-term illness – a 40% rise since 2019, according to the report.
These numbers reflect the lived experiences of individuals facing complex challenges such as mental health conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic illnesses – many of which may be preventable or better managed through inclusive, health-positive workplace practices. The review set out a clear challenge, and now, businesses are being called to act.
The Keep Britain Working Review is being delivered in three phases, each building on the last:
- Discovery laid the groundwork by exploring why people are leaving the workforce due to ill health and sharing examples of how employers are already making a difference. Read the full Keep Britain Working Discovery Review.
- Engagement, now concluded, collected feedback from businesses, industry groups, and individuals on what support exists today, and where regulation or policy could better enable employers to act.
- Recommendations will follow later this year, outlining practical proposals for both policy and employer action to help more people stay in or return to work.
For UK businesses, this isn’t just a government report – it’s a signal of what’s coming next. With the recommendations phase due later this year, the Keep Britain Working Review will help shape the future of workforce policy. Now is the time for employers to stay alert, reflect on their own workplace health strategies, and get ahead of the curve. Doing so could unlock new ways to support employee wellbeing, boost productivity, and strengthen long-term workforce resilience.
Why This Matters to Employers
No organisation is immune to the impacts of long-term ill health. From small enterprises to large businesses across different sectors, the consequences are being felt through:
- Talent shortages and rising recruitment costs
- Increased absenteeism and presenteeism
- Lower morale, engagement, and productivity
In response, many employers are taking steps to:
- Identify and address health risks before they escalate
- Strengthen organisational resilience through wellbeing-focused planning
- Support retention by creating a culture that values well-being
Key Insights from the Review
The Keep Britain Working Review calls for coordinated, employer-led action to reduce the scale of preventable health-related exits from the workforce. The Review:
- Emphasises the need for clearer accountability at all levels
- Calls for stronger leadership in managing health and safety
- Stresses the importance of strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration
- Highlights the need to recognise and mitigate workplace health risks proactively
It reflects a move away from simply managing absence, towards building a culture of proactive prevention that empowers people to thrive and enables long-term organisational success. This includes:
- Expanding access to mental health support
- Improving return-to-work processes
- Integrating wellbeing into organisational planning and strategy
Occupational Health Wellbeing Training
One way employers can act is through targeted training.
Our IOSH Approved Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course provides practical advice and tools for managers to help create a healthy and productive workplace. It covers essential topics such as health risk assessments, mental health awareness, and strategies to promote employee well-being, giving leaders a structured approach to managing health at work.
This training can also support organisations working towards or maintaining compliance with occupational health and safety standards such as ISO 45001, which sets out best practice for managing risks and promoting safer, healthier working environments.
Read the full Keep Britain Working Review to explore what it means for your business.
