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

OH service deliveryHealth and safetyOccupational Health

Impact of Brexit on health and wellbeing at work: practitioners fear cutbacks

by Nic Paton 3 Aug 2016
by Nic Paton 3 Aug 2016 UKIP leader Nigel Farage resigns after playing a key part in achieving Brexit. Will the UK's exit from Europe lead to cuts to health and wellbeing at work? Joel Goodman/LNP/Shutterstock
UKIP leader Nigel Farage resigns after playing a key part in achieving Brexit. Will the UK's exit from Europe lead to cuts to health and wellbeing at work? Joel Goodman/LNP/Shutterstock

A UK exit from the EU could have significant repercussions for occupational health and health and safety, practitioners are warning.

The shock result of the 23 June EU referendum has plunged the UK into significant economic, financial and political turmoil and uncertainty, and the effects could be felt within workplace health and wellbeing.

Practitioners considering the impact of Brexit argued the consequences are likely to be felt most keenly in two key areas: the potential effect on health and wellbeing spending by employers if we see a downturn in the economy; and the possibility of health and safety legislation or regulation being amended or watered down.

As Dr Paul Nicholson, chairman of the British Medical Association’s occupational medicine committee, told OH&W: “The economic climate is very uncertain now. When companies’ profits decline, one of the things they often look to cut is headcount, and health and wellbeing will often not be seen as a profit centre and could therefore be something that is looked at.”

Lucy Kenyon, communications director for the Association of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners, agreed. “There is the potential [that] employers will be less proactive around occupational health if the economy turns down – there could be less wellbeing work, less fitness-for-work activity, and it will just be more about getting people back to work. Employers will be looking to minimise.

“Having said that, occupational health is now embedded enough that many employers understand the benefit, both to the employer and employee. And there is a counter-argument that, in a recession or downturn, you need your skilled, experienced staff to be at work and fit and healthy even more,” she said.

While it is unlikely existing health and safety red tape will be unravelled or amended, there might be a knock-on effect in terms of future law making and regulation, argued Richard Jones, head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Employers should review their benefits provision in the wake of the Brexit vote, advised employee benefits consultancy Jelf, while Mercer warned that healthcare costs for expatriate workers could also increase as a result.

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Employment law in Indonesia: 10 key facts
next post
Building the business case for evidence-based mindfulness

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

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

You may also like

Mental ill-health at work: the evidence for action

16 Aug 2022

Hot summers, hot desks – employment law advice...

12 Aug 2022

Expert urges Covid-19 autumn booster expansion amid waning...

11 Aug 2022

Working in a heatwave: what should employers consider?

11 Aug 2022

Hybrid working: do the costs outweigh the wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Long Covid develops in one in eight of...

5 Aug 2022

How can OH start difficult conversations about loneliness?

3 Aug 2022

CPD: supporting the health needs of university staff

1 Aug 2022

CPD activities: supporting the health needs of university...

1 Aug 2022

Prof Sir Cary Cooper: sit up and take...

28 Jul 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 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