Working for a healthier tomorrow
Dame Carol Black's Review of the health of Britain's working age population
Life expectancy and numbers in employment are higher than ever before, yet around 175 million working days were lost to illness in 2006. This represents a significant cost, not only economically, but also in terms of social exclusion.
Recent evidence suggests that work can be good for health, reversing the harmful effects of long-term unemployment and prolonged sickness absence. Yet much of the current approach to the treatment of people of working age, including the sickness certification process, reflects an assumption that illness is incompatible with being in work.
Families without a working member are more likely to suffer persistent low income and poverty. There is also evidence of a correlation between lower parental income and poor health in children.
Improving the health of the working age population is critically important for everyone, in order to secure both higher economic growth and increased social justice.
This Review has sought to establish the foundations for a broad consensus around a new vision for health and work in Britain. At the heart of this vision are three principal objectives:
- prevention of illness and promotion of health and well-being;
- early intervention for those who develop a health condition; and
-
an improvement in the health of those out of work – so that everyone with the potential to work has the support they need to do so.
Published : 17th March 2008
Author : Carol Black [ More From This Author ]
Publisher : The Stationery Office [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Crown Copyright
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