UK programme expands employer drive to keep workers in jobs despite ill-health

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UK employer ill-health programme

Highlights

Over 250 employers, providers, and organisations are collaborating on the Keep Britain Working Review, with nearly 200 workplaces signed up as Vanguards and all devolved administrations involved.
A new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit will collect standardised data on sickness absence, return-to-work outcomes, and disability participation, enabling national benchmarking and evidence-based policy development.
The initiative forms part of a £3.5 billion employment support package that includes £259 million for WorkWell and aims to reach up to 550,000 workers through tailored programmes and over 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers.

Employer measures and data plans

As reported by GOV.UK, more than 250 employers, providers and organisations are working with Sir Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working Review to reshape support for health and disability in the workplace through stay-in-work and return-to-work plans.

The latest report says shared responsibility, better data and personalised plans are central to helping people remain in work. Nearly 200 workplaces have now signed up as Vanguards, while 10 mayoral authorities and all three devolved administrations are also involved in the programme.

A new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit is set to collect standardised data from employers and providers across the UK, tracking sickness absence, return-to-work outcomes and disability participation. The government says this will make workplace health performance visible for the first time, enable benchmarking and give policymakers a stronger evidence base.

Sir Charlie says the system has for too long focused on people after they become ill or face barriers, and that employers need to take earlier action and play a direct role in employee health and wellbeing. Work is also underway on a workplace health standard for employers that offer a defined level of provision at an affordable cost.

Economic and workforce impact across Britain

Officials present the initiative as part of a wider response to one of Britain's most pressing labour market challenges, with businesses testing practical approaches across regions and sectors. Thirty Vanguard organisations take part in intensive employer-led sprints on prevention, staying in work, returning to work and data gathering, while 70 further organisations and 10 regional workshops, including small and medium-sized businesses, test the findings more broadly.

The feedback from employers is that outcomes should take priority over paperwork and process, with the report highlighting the need for employers, workers, providers and government to share responsibility for keeping people in work successfully. Pat McFadden says the response from employers has been strong and argues that a national standard, improved data and clearer accountability can help repair the current system and support economic growth.

The progress sits within a 3.5 billion pound employment support package. WorkWell, backed by 259 million pounds, is intended to support up to 250,000 people to stay in or return to work, while Connect to Work is due to reach 300,000 sick or disabled people with tailored support, and more than 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers are already in place across Britain.

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray says the government is trying to shift the focus from signing people off work to helping them stay in work or return safely when ready. Further reforms are due to be guided by the Milburn and Timms reviews, which are scheduled to conclude later this year.

Our earlier coverage of the June 2026 U.S. jobs report highlighted the weaker-than-expected rise in payrolls and downward revisions that signaled cooling hiring momentum. It also explained that the drop in the unemployment rate was largely driven by people leaving the labor force, making the headline figures harder to interpret and keeping policy scrutiny focused on participation and labor supply.

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