Improving workers and employers access to occupational health systems and services
IOSH members have the opportunity to take part in two consultations aimed at informing the Government’s approach to supporting occupational health provision.
With tackling economic inactivity due to long-term sickness and making additional support for disabled people and people with health conditions to work more available is becoming a top priority for the UK Government, this offers a chance for OSH professionals to provide their input.
Key consultations
The consultations are as follows:
- Occupational health: working better
Organised by the Department for Work and Pensions, this consultation is seeking views on proposals aimed at increasing employer use of occupational health services.
- Tax incentives for occupational health
Run by HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs, this is aimed at employers and exploring the role of tax incentives in boosting occupational health provision by employers. This consultative exercise discusses the case for tax incentives and specifically seeks views on providing further support through expanding the Benefit in Kind exemption for medical benefits, to encourage greater employer provision of occupational health services.
Dr Ivan Williams Jimenez, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at IOSH, said: “Good OSH, and more specifically good occupational health, is critical to tackle the challenges of an ageing population, the spread of chronic health conditions, poor mental health and an unprecedented long-term illness crisis in the UK’s workforce.
“All these issues pose a challenge for the financial sustainability of public health systems. As this consultation has rightly addressed, it is well-evidenced that the UK is facing a labour force crisis, aggravated by poor productivity and unprecedented inactivity rates, with more people expected to be out of the labour market due to long-term health conditions.
“Employer-led occupational health services and OH systems are critical to addressing the impacts of an individual’s health conditions in the workplace, and supporting employees to remain healthy and productive at work, while their advice and expertise can help to prevent people falling out of work as a result of health and work-related health conditions.”
Don’t delay, have your say!
Both consultations are open until 23:59 BST on Thursday 12 October.
Take part in the Occupational health: working better consultation.
Take part in the Tax incentives for occupational health consultation.
