Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to introduce further measures to assist employers in supporting employees to return to work after a mental health-related absence; and if he will make a statement.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health have published ‘Improving Lives – the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper’. The Green Paper sets out the Government’s proposals for improving work and health outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

Many employers are already creating healthy, inclusive workplaces, but more needs to be done so that employers provide the support needed for employees with disabilities and long-term health conditions, including mental health conditions, to help them get into and stay in work

Through the Green Paper we are asking about the barriers preventing employers from recruiting and retaining disabled people and people with health conditions, and what measures would help them in doing so. Specifically:

• We are consulting on reform to Statutory Sick Pay to support phased returns to work. A phased return to work can be beneficial to both employer and employee, as it may help prevent further periods of absence or the employee falling out of work entirely;
• How we can transform occupational health provision to ensure it more closely meets the spectrum of need, including the needs of employers.
• The Green Paper also announced a review of the current operation of the fit note. This review will look at the current system and whether it meets the needs of its users – including employers. We are seeking views to inform this review through the consultation.

Further, the Government has asked Paul Farmer and Lord Stevenson to conduct a review into how best to ensure employees with mental health conditions are supported to thrive in the workplace and perform at their best. We will also be reviewing internally the evidence around discrimination in the workplace for people with mental health.

This review will build on our Green Paper consultation to help build the evidence base around mental health and employment.