Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the response to the Health is everyone’s business: proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss consultation, closed in July 2019, will be published.

The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive at work. The consultation closed in October 2019. We received a good response from a range of stakeholders and are now considering the timing of the response in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that a response will be available by the end of the year.

Background

The consultation ‘Health is everyone’s business: proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss’ ran between July – October 2019 and included proposals across four major policy areas:

1. Amend the legal framework to encourage early action to support individuals when they are absent from work and to facilitate more conversations to agree effective workplace modifications;

2. Reform of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) so that it is better enforced, more flexible, and support the lowest paid employees;

3. Measures to improve availability of high-quality, cost-effective occupational health (OH) services for employers; and

4. Advice and support from government for employers to understand and act on their responsibilities

We received a good response from a range of stakeholders.