UK Back-to-Work Adviser Urges Phone Contact for Sick Employees

Individuals absent from work due to illness should maintain phone contact with their employers, according to government-appointed back-to-work expert Sir Charlie Mayfield. He advocates for conversations rather than solely relying on emails and sick notes, believing this approach can aid in employees' return to work.

Mayfield's latest report highlights that health-related economic inactivity costs Britain approximately £212 million annually in benefit payments and lost output. He stated that phone conversations are a vital component of a broader strategy to address this issue.

The report, titled 'Keep Britain Working: A National Growth Opportunity,' calls for increased workplace support for individuals with health conditions and disabilities. It also proposes the establishment of a Workplace Health System to complement the National Health Service (NHS). However, Mayfield emphasized that enhancing communication can also contribute to "rehumanising" the workplace and preventing employees from leaving their jobs.

This recommendation is not intended for short-term illnesses like the flu or food poisoning, where brief notifications might suffice. "I'm not worried about a day here and a day there. It is more about longer term issues," Sir Charlie explained.

He asserted that Britain is currently performing poorly in managing sickness within the workplace, which contributes to increased disengagement and higher rates of people leaving employment. "I have met so many people who have said to me, 'You know, I was signed off sick and I was off sick for a month, two months, three months, and I had almost no contact with my employer'," Sir Charlie said.

Approximately 300,000 individuals exit the workforce each year due to health conditions, a significant portion of which the report suggests is preventable. Sir Charlie noted that employees sometimes hesitate to discuss long-term health concerns with their employers, fearing negative repercussions.

"But the fear is also felt by employers as well because they're afraid of causing offence or creating a complaint or a grievance," he added. This mutual fear, he warned, can foster distance and misunderstanding, making longer absences more likely to result in a worker permanently leaving the labor force.

"If you can keep more people in work, there's a massive opportunity for us to add billions to the economy and, frankly, to people's livelihoods," Sir Charlie stated. "To get that, though, you need to have people talking to each other, and you've got to more actively manage sickness and ill health in the workplace."

He urged employers to increase their efforts in supporting staff, while also encouraging employees to engage in these processes. Other suggested employer actions include ensuring access to treatments such as physiotherapy and talking therapies.