New research from Aviva suggests UK employers are placing greater emphasis on workforce health and wellbeing, with confidence in their ability to support employees through periods of ill health continuing to grow.
The findings come around 20 months after the launch of the Government's Keep Britain Working Review, which examined how employers, government and wider support services can work together to tackle economic inactivity and help more people with ill health remain in or return to work.
Aviva's research suggests the review has helped accelerate changes in workplace practices. More than four in five employers (83%) surveyed say the Keep Britain Working Review has influenced their organisation's approach to supporting employees with health conditions or disabilities.
Nearly nine in ten employers (87%) agree they have a responsibility to support employees with a health condition to remain in work rather than waiting until they need to take long-term sickness absence.
Alongside growing recognition of the importance of keeping people in work, employers also report greater confidence in helping employees back into work following a period of ill health. Four in five employers (80%) believe their organisation is good at supporting employees’ return to work after long-term ill health, compared with around three quarters (74%) in 2024.
While employers increasingly recognise their own role in supporting workforce health, the findings suggest they see improving workforce health and reducing economic inactivity as a shared responsibility.
Employers are calling for a more coordinated approach between business, Government and healthcare providers, recognising that lasting progress will require action both inside and outside the workplace.
When asked what would help organisations better support employees' health and ability to remain in work, employers were most likely to call for a greater focus on public health and supporting people to live healthier lives (56%).
Around half also said they would like greater guidance on accessing best-practice support services (50%), more help making those services affordable (48%), and additional guidance on employer best practice (47%).
The findings highlight a consensus among employers that preventing ill health before it becomes a barrier to employment must sit alongside efforts to support people back into work.
Dr Suba M, Medical Director and Sustainability Lead, Aviva UK Health said: “Employee health is a growing priority for businesses. Since the Keep Britain Working Review was announced in 2024, more employers recognise the role they can play in helping employees stay in work and getting them back to work following ill health. It's encouraging to see growing confidence among employers and a clear commitment to invest in the health and wellbeing of their workforce. However, businesses are equally clear that tackling economic inactivity cannot be achieved by employers alone.
"There is a strong appetite for greater collaboration between employers, government and healthcare providers, alongside a stronger focus on prevention and public health. Helping more people stay healthy, remain in work and return to work requires coordinated action across all stakeholders."
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