Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Fit for WorkLatest NewsLabour marketOccupational HealthMigrant workers

Government considers annual health checks and OH subsidies

by Ashleigh Webber 6 Mar 2023
by Ashleigh Webber 6 Mar 2023 The government is reportedly considering offering workers an annual health check
Shutterstock
The government is reportedly considering offering workers an annual health check
Shutterstock

Ministers are considering bringing in annual health checks for workers and subsidies for smaller businesses to offer occupational health services to help reduce the number of workers going on long-term sick leave, according to reports.

It has been suggested that chancellor Jeremy Hunt will announce the health check plans, which were first reported by the Sunday Times, in his Budget next week (15 March).

The government would also conduct a trial of a subsidy for small businesses to claim back up to 80% of the cost of occupational health (OH) services. It has been estimated that only half of employers in the UK offer occupational health services.

However, the Society of Occupational Medicine said there was limited evidence about the effectiveness of health checks on keeping people in work for longer. Chief executive Nick Pahl said any subsidy should be offered to help smaller businesses tackle “emerging health issues” and for OH “to assess [these] so the employee does not fall out of work or can be supported to return to work”.

Labour shortages

‘Unretiring’ isn’t the answer to reducing economic inactivity

Early retirement contributing to worker shortages, finds Lords inquiry

CBI reveals principles to overcome UK labour challenges

He said: “We welcome the subsidy for small business as it will lead to further appreciation and knowledge about OH by employers. The occupational health sector needs to both take responsibility and have support to increase its capacity to meet the increase in demand.”

Ministers have also reportedly asked the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises on which sectors should be added to the shortage occupation list and thus have more relaxed eligibility requirements for work visas, to consider whether construction, hospitality and retail industries should be added to the list.

Hunt has ordered a review of the workforce by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care to determine why there are around half a million more economically inactive people of working age than before the pandemic. Many of these are out of work because of ill health, but there has also been an increase in early retirement.

However, it has been suggested that the chancellor’s focus on encouraging retirees to return to work is not the answer to reducing economic inactivity, with the Resolution Foundation recently stating that recent retirees have disproportionately come from high-paying jobs and are unlikely to want to return to work, while actuarial and financial consulting firm Lane Clark & Peacock has said the rise in economic inactivity is due to long-term sickness.

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more human resources jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor of OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
UK workforce mental wellbeing needs
next post
CBI’s Tony Danker steps aside amid conduct allegations

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

One in five find everyday sounds intolerable

23 Mar 2023

Why mental health first aid is not the...

21 Mar 2023

NHS staff survey: One in three often consider...

9 Mar 2023

Government appoints menopause employment champion

7 Mar 2023

Hybrid working wellbeing benefits being overestimated

7 Mar 2023

Why mental health first aid legislation is long...

1 Mar 2023

Improve NHS staff wellbeing to provide better care,...

27 Feb 2023

Mental health first aid bill ‘could create negative...

22 Feb 2023

Four-day week trial results show 92% will continue...

21 Feb 2023

Closing the gender pay gap in a cost-of-living...

16 Feb 2023

  • Neurodiversity: How to make the workplace more inclusive (webinar) WEBINAR | Can your organisation truly be inclusive...Read more
  • How HR can facilitate internal talent mobility PROMOTED | Should internal talent mobility be a priority...Read more
  • Bereavement in the workplace: How training can help HR get it right PROMOTED | HR professionals play an essential role...Read more
  • UK workforce mental wellbeing needs PROMOTED | The mental wellbeing support employers are providing misses the mark...Read more
  • The Workplace Today Guide: Why it pays to support your staff’s financial health PROMOTED | The cost of living crisis has hit...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today