Centre for Mental Health

Centre responds to DWP survey on health and work

29 July 2011

Sean Duggan, Centre for Mental Health Chief Executive, today responded to the publication of three linked reports commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions.

The reports were based on a survey of attitudes to health and work among working age adults, employees and employers.

The reports found that, despite more than 80 per cent of people stating that they would like employers to take steps to help employees with long term conditions to carry on working, more than two thirds of employers surveyed had not taken any action to help employees with health problems stay in work or return to work.

Commenting on the survey, Sean Duggan said:“Staying in work promotes recovery, aids rehabilitation and minimises the harmful effects of long-term sickness absence. We know that the most strongly associated factor with successful job retention is the support of the manager or supervisors; which makes these surveys findings worrying reading.

The reports also found that eighty-three per cent of employers did not provide stress management advice and support. Sean Duggan said: “Mental illness is now the largest category of occupational ill health in the UK. It’s in every employer’s best interests to manage stress and promote well-being at work. This helps to prevent sickness absence and even job loss. The total cost of mental health problems per employee averages at £1,035 per year; mainly through reduced productivity and absenteeism. Early intervention and support from employers can cut these costs by more than 30 percent.”