Employers face £85bn in costs linked to ill-health ‘crisis’

Employers Face £85bn Cost from Worsening Workplace Ill Health

By Freddie Clemo
5 November 2025

UK businesses could see 600,000 additional workers leave the labour market due to illness by 2030, unless companies embrace a major shift in how they address employee health. This warning comes from the Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, former head of John Lewis.

Report Highlights Growing Challenge

The study criticised the prevailing system, where the burden of rising workplace health issues has largely fallen on individuals and the NHS. It argued that such an approach is no longer sustainable as the rate of sickness-related absences continues to climb.

“Without a fundamental shift from businesses, 600,000 more people could leave the workforce owing to sickness by 2030.”

Shared Responsibility Recommended

The review urged employers, employees, and health services to assume joint responsibility for tackling the issue of workplace illness, rather than treating it as a matter for the healthcare system alone.

According to the findings, businesses are already incurring around £85 billion annually in expenses linked to ill health, underscoring the economic imperative to invest in prevention and employee wellbeing.

Key Measures Proposed

Author’s Summary: The Keep Britain Working report calls on UK employers to share responsibility for employee health, warning that inaction could see major workforce losses and £85bn in annual costs by 2030.

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People Management People Management — 2025-11-05

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