Crisis as rising variety of folks ‘too sick to work’ prices UK £212bn | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sick observe Britain is costing the nation £212billion yearly – and the associated fee will proceed rising as extra working-age folks say they’re too in poor health to carry down a job. The value to the advantages invoice is ready to extend by £20billion over the subsequent 5 years, and younger persons are significantly affected – with 436,000 folks aged 16-34 now saying they can not work on account of a psychological well being situation.

The warnings are set out in a report from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which mentioned: “The UK is sliding into an economic inactivity crisis.” The Government mentioned it could work with employers and mayor-led regional authorities to assist hold employees in work. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden mentioned: “Keeping people healthy and in work is the right thing to do and is essential for economic growth.

“Business is our partner in building a productive workforce, because when businesses retain talent and reduce workplace ill-health, everyone wins.”

An inquiry by former John Lewis chairman Sir Andrew Mayfield, commissioned by the DWP, warned that 2.8million working-age folks have dropped out of the workforce, which means they aren’t in work or in search of a job, on account of well being circumstances. This is 800,000 greater than in 2019. But the quantity is predicted to soar by one other 600,000 by 2030.

The prices to the UK are already big, and embody £132billion in misplaced financial output from folks too sick to work, and one other £37billion in misplaced output from unpaid carers taking care of the sick.

Proposed adjustments embody reform of the “fit note” system, wherein GPs, nurses or pharmacists present a observe to say an worker is just too in poor health to work. These are usually supplied after a 10-minute GP session, of which two minutes are spent discussing and signing the match observe, the inquiry mentioned.

Sir Charles mentioned different nations “do much better”.

He mentioned: “There is broad recognition that Britain is facing a quiet but urgent crisis. Over one in five working-age adults are out of the workforce, substantially because of health problems. Mental ill-health among young people is rising sharply. Older workers are leaving too early.”

The Government mentioned greater than 60 employers – together with the British Beer and Pub Association, Burger King, John Lewis and Google UK – have expressed curiosity in turning into so-called vanguard employers to pioneer the general new strategy.

This would contain a three-year part targeted on find out how to deal with psychological well being at work, retention of older folks in work and improved participation and retention of disabled folks in work.

James Watson-O’Neill, from nationwide incapacity charity Sense, mentioned he welcomed plans for employers to supply employees extra assist however warned towards slashing advantages. He mentioned: “Cutting welfare benefits will only add to financial insecurity and anxiety, making it even harder for people to focus on finding or keeping a job.”