Over 10 million UK workers lack access to workplace health support

A new report by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) reveals that nearly half of the UK workforce lacks access to essential health support in the workplace.

The report highlights that 47 percent of workers, especially those in lower-paid sectors like agriculture and hospitality, do not receive health checks, flu vaccinations, or other health benefits at work. This gap persists despite evidence showing that workers in these sectors face greater health risks.

The report, released amid discussions around the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, advocates for the universal “right to a healthy workplace” for all employees. The Employment Rights Bill proposes changes to employment law, including the introduction of sick pay from day one and making flexible working arrangements the default option for workers.

Call for a Mandatory Health and Work Standard

The RSPH report recommends the creation of a mandatory national Health and Work Standard. This would establish a minimum level of health support that all employees should be entitled to, aiming to reduce the disparity between different industries and ensure equitable access to health resources in the workplace.

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The report outlines several measures that would contribute to healthier working environments, including mandatory sick pay from the first day of illness, with incentives for businesses to provide a living wage while employees are off work; upskilling HR professionals, supported by occupational health specialists, to help integrate health improvement strategies across organisations; government incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in workforce health, allowing businesses to reap long-term productivity benefits; and standardised data collection on workforce health in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to track and evaluate the impact of health interventions.

Economic and Social Costs

The report stresses the importance of promoting workplace health to address the economic cost of ill health, estimated to be around £100 billion annually. With millions of people leaving the workforce due to health issues, the report calls for a greater focus on preventing illness and promoting wellbeing within the workplace to ease pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) and reduce waiting lists.

William Roberts FRSPH, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said, “Millions of people are leaving the workforce due to ill health. It costs us tens of billions every year. It also puts an additional strain on our health service, leaving people languishing on waiting lists.”

Roberts added that while the Employment Rights Bill is “a big step in the right direction” , further action is require – and quickly.

“We spend a great deal of our adult lives in and around the workplace;” he said. “We need to think about how we use our workplaces to build health, keep people well, and prevent people being signed off sick.As it stands, our workplaces are exacerbating health inequalities. This means that millions of people that would most benefit from workplace health support are missing out.

“We know that businesses want to do more to build healthy workplaces and support their employees. This report sets out a clear and actionable set of recommendations that will make a real impact if implemented by policymakers.”

The Role of Businesses in Addressing Workforce Health

Tina Woods, CEO of Business for Health, echoed the call for action, stating that businesses want to contribute to solving the healthcare and productivity challenges facing the UK.

“By putting in place support to keep employees healthy and in work, we can improve outcomes, reduce waiting lists, and grow the economy,” she said. “But businesses cannot do this alone – they want to do more, and need support from the Government to do this. As we consider the shape of the basic rights all employees should have, it is more important than ever that workplace health is prioritised, rather than treated as a burden on the economy – because we know that the opposite is true.”

The RSPH report highlights the disproportionate impact of health inequalities on workers in lower-paid industries, where access to health support is often lacking. Sectors like agriculture and hospitality, where working conditions are often more physically demanding, see higher rates of workplace-related ill health. Yet, these sectors are among the least likely to offer routine health checks or flu vaccinations.

The call for a universal right to a healthy workplace is particularly relevant in these industries, where workers face significant health risks but have fewer resources to manage or prevent illness.