Keep Britain Working review makes employee wellbeing impossible for business to ignore, says CIPD

The CIPD has welcomed the findings of the Keep Britain Working review, which highlights an urgent need to address rising sickness absence and ill health across the nation’s working population. We’ve played an active role in the review process, championing the voice of the people profession through our recommendations.  

The final report highlights the vital role that employers play in supporting people’s health and enabling them to remain in productive and fulfilling work. It clearly calls for both the UK Government and employers to take action. 

For the profession, this is the perfect opportunity to reinforce what we’ve long championed – that positive, fair and supportive working environments directly benefit employee wellbeing, performance and productivity. And, as your trusted career partner, we’ll ensure you’ve got the tools and confidence you need to make it count.   

Leading the way in embedding positive workplace wellbeing practices 

In September this year, our annual Health and Wellbeing at Work report revealed record levels of sickness absence – the highest in 15 years. Nearly nine million working-age people live with work-limiting health conditions. As people continue to live and work longer, organisations must adapt to support them effectively.  

As people professionals, we drive everything that makes work work – from building managers’ confidence to hold sensitive conversations about health and wellbeing to shaping proactive policies and training that make employees feel safe to ask for adjustments. By equipping managers to respond effectively and stay in contact with employees who are off sick, you can help them balance work and health, strengthen relationships and ensure a smooth return to work. 

Championing the voice and experiences of the profession 

Throughout the Keep Britain Working review, we’ve championed the voice of the profession. We submitted recommendations based on your experiences and worked closely with Sir Charlie Mayfield, who led the review, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as the final proposals took shape. 

Sir Charlie also spoke at our Wellbeing Conference in London in October, where he reiterated the critical role of employers in workplace health. His review rightly calls out the responsibility employers have to provide supportive working environments for all. 

As the review moves into the next phase, we’ll continue to support people professionals to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. We frequently publish new evidence-based guidance and resources for members on supporting people with health conditions or disabilities. We’ll also share positive examples to inspire you to lead change in your organisations.  

The people profession is key to making the review’s vision a reality, and we’re committed to equipping you with the tools and confidence you need to lead the way.