UK: Employment Reforms: Ill Health and Absenteeism
Authors: Charles Urquhart and Corinna Harris
The UK government has published its Get Britain Working White Paper as part of its strategy to improve economic activity.
The proposals, which aim to achieve an 80% employment rate, include:
- A new ‘Youth Guarantee,’ providing 18-21 year olds in England with access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education or help, to help them find a job
- Transforming the Apprenticeship Levy in England into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills and get into work
- Expanding mental health support
- Connect to Work, a new supported employment programme, providing voluntary employment offers to people with disabilities, health conditions or complex barriers to work
- An independent review into how employers can be better supported to recruit and retain people with disabilities and health conditions, to implement early intervention for sickness absence and to improve the rate of employees returning from sick leave
Key Action Points for Human Resources and In-House Counsel
The proposed support for employers in implementing early intervention for sickness absence and with return to work may help with reducing absenteeism and increase employee retention.
You can view our recent webinar with Simon Brittz, Counselling Psychologist from HCA Healthcare here: How employers can manage the increasing mental health issues amongst younger workers.
It seems likely that extending the time limit will lead to an increase in claims being brought in the employment tribunal. This could in turn impact on the length of time it takes for tribunals to deal with claims.
It is not yet known when this change will take effect.
