News from SOM and OM calendar

News from SOM

The Government has launched the consultation Occupational Health: Working Better https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/occupational-health-working-better. In parallel, HMT/HMRC have also launched the consultation Tax Incentives for Occupational Health (OH) www.gov.uk/government/consultations/joint-hmt-hmrc-consultation-on-tax-incentives-for-occupational-health.

The consultation will explore:

• The introduction of a national health at work’ standard to help provide a baseline for quality OH provision including guidance, the option of pursuing accreditation and additional Government-funded support services as well as employer best practice sharing (Chapter 1).

• best practice from other countries and other UK-based employer models that enable employers to provide support for their employees (Chapter 2); and

• how we develop and support a multidisciplinary workforce on work and health, including an expert OH workforce. This will build on our existing work with the OH sector and explore the opportunities this can offer businesses and providers (Chapter 3).

SOM welcomes the Government recognising OH as an evidence-based approach rather than the un evidence-based well-being initiatives that some businesses are currently spending on.

SOM agrees that quality occupational health (OH) services have the potential to prevent work-related illness and avoidable sickness absence, prevent people falling out of work, support business productivity, potentially reduce pressures on the NHS, and support a reduction in economic inactivity because of health conditions. However, OH coverage across Great Britain is currently at 45% of workers, which is substantially lower than international comparators. Occupational Health must scale up, but quality must be assured, and its preventive side is maximised. rather than more of the same reactive case management.

Tax incentives may assist with scale, up this requires a focus on behaviour change among employers and on the workforce. Relying on market incentives and legislation will not be enough on its own.

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