And it's vital that Government sticks to its guns and delivers on the promise of a day one right to flexible working through the Employment Rights Bill, and sets out a roadmap that goes beyond current Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Reforms, including raising the level of SSP on offer in the UK.

The Review must explore how Government can work more closely with employers, and how employers can be incentivised to provide more health related support. That could include an extended employer duty of care and supporting additional vocational rehabilitation.

We can also learn from the experience of other countries - employers in the Netherlands are mandated to provide sick pay of at least 70% of worker’s wages for up to two years of an absence and provide rehabilitation programmes – keeping workers linked to employment for longer should they fall ill.

In addition, access to flexible working can make a big difference too. We found that workers without flexibility in their job roles were four times more likely to leave work after a health decline. www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

@workfoundation.bsky.social analysis has shown that early intervention will be key. In our recent study, nearly one in ten employees (9%) who had experienced a decline in health had left work within four years – and half of those were within the first year.

The Keep Britain Working Review provides a critical opportunity to shape more ambitious and long-term reforms to stem the flow of people leaving work due to ill health. Sir Charlie rightly identifies that this will mean Government and employers working together to drive change.

You can read the full analysis which is based on the largest mixed methods study of disabled workers’ experiences of remote and hybrid work in the UK below. www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

If Government is to support more of those with disabilities who want to work to access employment, it must increase the level and visibility of remote and hybrid working opportunities, including exploring a legal duty to publish flexible working options in job advertisements.

But there is a big gap between demand for these kinds of jobs, and the supply of them - less than 4% of vacancies on the DWP Find a Job portal includes remote and hybrid options.

And you can find the full report here. It makes the case for a renewed focus on creating healthier jobs and an emphasis on prevention & early intervention: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

@asliatay.bsky.social @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social @alicepmartin.bsky.social @gdwilliams9.bsky.social