The Health Foundation podcast 55: When work isn’t working: tackling the UK’s sickness problem – with Jon Ashworth and Sacha Romanovitch
May 27, 2025
Sacha Romanovitch, Chair of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, and Jon Ashworth, Chief Executive of Labour Together, dive into the pressing issue of health-related economic inactivity in the UK. They discuss how 8.2 million working-age individuals struggle with long-term conditions, emphasizing the need for flexible work environments. Solutions involve reforming Statutory Sick Pay and advocating for early intervention strategies. The conversation also highlights innovative approaches like AI scheduling, aiming to enhance workforce wellness and tackle mental health challenges head-on.
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Work-Related Health Decline Trends
- Rising work-related ill health reflects pre-pandemic trends that worsened during COVID but are rooted in longer social changes.
- Mental health problems, financial worries, and workplace challenges form a complex health decline backdrop.
Work, Health Inequality, Economy Link
- Poor work conditions and socio-economic factors drive unequal health and employment outcomes.
- Fixing health-work links is essential for economic growth and better living standards.
Early Intervention Supports Retention
- Intervene early when workers develop health issues by assessing health, housing, and support needs.
- Offer tailored support to help people stay in work before long-term absence sets in.