Government Advisor Calls for Direct Worker-Employer Contact for Sick Leave

Workers needing to take time off sick should be required to speak directly with their employers via phone call, rather than relying on text messages or emails, according to a senior government adviser. Sir Charlie Mayfield, a former John Lewis boss, aims to "change the norms" and limit the ability of employees to simply disappear after sending a brief message.

Mayfield is leading a government-commissioned investigation into the approximately 300,000 individuals who leave the workforce annually due to health conditions. He suggested in an interview that significant changes are needed in workplaces, noting that managers may be hesitant to contact absent employees for fear of complaints or tribunal action. Instead, he proposes a focus on "return to work" plans, discussions about work-provided treatments such as physiotherapy, or the possibility of alternative roles.

"It's very important that you're immediately establishing a contact, a dialogue, between the employer and the employee," Mayfield told The Times. "So you can't just text, send a WhatsApp, or send an email. You've actually got to ring somebody up."

He elaborated that a phone call provides an opportunity for a more compassionate exchange, allowing employers to express sympathy and inquire about the duration of the absence and any potential support they could offer. Mayfield stated, "We're saying that we should change the norm so that it's almost never the case that you should be allowed to be off sick without being in contact with your employer."

Mayfield's report, titled "Keep Britain Working," suggests that many long-term absences could be prevented with better coordination between the NHS, employers, local councils, and other support services. The report also recommends increased data sharing among employers to compare rates of participation in the workplace for disabled and ill individuals and to understand the reasons behind differing outcomes.

"Britain has spent too long treating economic inactivity as a welfare problem. It is not," Sir Charlie asserted. "Instead, it's one of the largest and most attainable growth opportunities this country has."

He highlighted the absence of a dedicated "Workplace Health System" in the UK, despite the existence of the National Health Service for nearly 80 years. This gap, he argued, leads to a lack of connection between individuals appearing on welfare rolls, NHS waiting lists, and productivity figures, resulting in missed opportunities to provide timely support. A new Workplace Health System, he believes, would address this.

This discussion follows remarks from another adviser, Alan Milburn, who suggested that young people on benefits should be treated with "tough love," characterizing the current system as a "total state failure." Milburn, who is reviewing youth unemployment, advocates for increased employment support in exchange for a "duty to engage" from recipients, asserting that those capable of working should be obligated to utilize available support.