The new Keep Britain Working: Final Report, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, has delivered a clear message: the UK faces a growing health and work crisis. Ill-health is now the number one reason people are out of work. More than one in five working-age adults is economically inactive due to health issues, and since 2019, around 800,000 more people have left the workforce because of poor health.
So what are the biggest drivers? Rising mental ill-health among younger workers and early retirement among older employees, mean unless we act, this trend will continue to hold back productivity, growth, and inclusion across every sector.
Why this matters to you as an employer
The government has welcomed the review’s findings and is calling on employers to play a leading role in turning the tide. For you, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Investing in employee health isn’t just good ethics, it’s good business. According to the Office for National Statistics, 148.9 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2024 – that’s an average of 4.4 day per worker.
However, by focusing on wellbeing, prevention, and rehabilitation, you can help strengthen your business from the inside out, reducing absence, improving retention, and boosting productivity.
As Steve Hope, Employee Benefits Director at Adler Fairways, advises: “This isn’t just about responding to a government report, it’s about recognising that workforce health is now a strategic business issue. If you invest in wellbeing today, you’re building the foundation for tomorrow’s success.”
The healthy working lifecycle
The review proposes a Healthy Working Lifecycle: a new framework that supports health across every stage of working life: prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and return to work.
To make this real in your business, you’ll need the right expertise, partners, and data. That’s where specialist employee benefits broker, such as Adler Fairways can help.
How a specialist insurance broker can help you
A trusted employee benefits broker can help you take practical, measurable action in four key areas:
- Strategic benefits design– Build health and wellbeing benefits that fit your workforce and business goals, from mental health support to inclusive policies.
- Access to proven solutions – Connect with market-leading providers for early intervention and rehabilitation services, often at better value with measurable outcomes.
- Data-Driven decision making – Use workplace health insights to track outcomes, benchmark performance, and improve continuously.
- Support for Vanguard participation – the government’s Vanguard phase, will showcase best practice in workplace health. A broker can align your benefits strategy with recognised standards and evidence-based approaches.
Your next steps
We have long championed the principles now outlined in the Keep Britain Working review. Our Employee Benefits team helps employers like you:
- Reduce sickness absence
- Improve return-to-work outcomes
- Enhance inclusion, embracing diversity in age, gender, and mental or physical ability
- Deliver measurable value through tailored benefits strategies.
We believe the Vanguard phase is a pivotal opportunity for employers to lead by example. It offers a timely opportunity to scale your efforts and supports you in building a resilient, healthy workforce.
Want to learn more? Have a chat with us today and be at the forefront of change.
Steve Hope
Employee Benefits Director
Adler Fairways
