10/02/2014
Over 960,000 On Sick Leave For One Month Or More
As many as 960,000 employees were on sick leave for a month or more each year on average between October 2010 and September 2013, the government has revealed, as it prepares to launch a new Health and Work Service to combat the problem.
The government has already taken big steps in getting people on long-term sick benefits back into work as part of the government’s long-term economic plan, with almost a quarter of a million coming off incapacity benefits since 2010 – and almost a million who put in a claim actually have been found fit for work.
It now wants to do more to support business to prevent sickness absence turning into long-term welfare dependency in the first place by setting up a new support service.
Recent figures show the largest quarterly increase in employment since records began and more than half a million people coming off benefits since 2010.
But more than 130 million days are still being lost to sickness absence every year in Great Britain and working-age ill health costs the national economy £100 billion a year.
The Health and Work Service will help employees who have been on sickness absence for 4 weeks to return to work and support employers to better manage sickness absence among their workforce. It’s expected to save employers £70 million a year and cut the time people spend off work by 20% to 40%.
Minister of State for Work and Pensions Mike Penning said: "More than 130 million days a year are lost to sickness absence in Great Britain, which has a substantial impact on workers, employers and taxpayers.
"As part of the government’s long-term economic plan, we are taking action to improve get people back into work. This is a triple-win. It will mean more people with a job, reduced cost for business, and a more financially secure future for Britain."
The Health and Work Service will offer a work-focused occupational health assessment and case management to employees in the early stages of sickness absence.
GPs will be able to refer employees for assessment by the new service once they are absent, or expected to be absent, from work due to illness for four weeks. Employers can also refer employees.
The work-focused occupational health assessment will identify the issues preventing an employee from returning to work and draw up a plan for them, their employer and GP, recommending how the employee can be helped back to work more quickly.
The plan will include a timetable for a return to work, fitness for work advice, as well as signpost to appropriate help. Employees will be supported throughout their time with the service, so they can return to work as soon as they are able to.
(CSV/CD)
The government has already taken big steps in getting people on long-term sick benefits back into work as part of the government’s long-term economic plan, with almost a quarter of a million coming off incapacity benefits since 2010 – and almost a million who put in a claim actually have been found fit for work.
It now wants to do more to support business to prevent sickness absence turning into long-term welfare dependency in the first place by setting up a new support service.
Recent figures show the largest quarterly increase in employment since records began and more than half a million people coming off benefits since 2010.
But more than 130 million days are still being lost to sickness absence every year in Great Britain and working-age ill health costs the national economy £100 billion a year.
The Health and Work Service will help employees who have been on sickness absence for 4 weeks to return to work and support employers to better manage sickness absence among their workforce. It’s expected to save employers £70 million a year and cut the time people spend off work by 20% to 40%.
Minister of State for Work and Pensions Mike Penning said: "More than 130 million days a year are lost to sickness absence in Great Britain, which has a substantial impact on workers, employers and taxpayers.
"As part of the government’s long-term economic plan, we are taking action to improve get people back into work. This is a triple-win. It will mean more people with a job, reduced cost for business, and a more financially secure future for Britain."
The Health and Work Service will offer a work-focused occupational health assessment and case management to employees in the early stages of sickness absence.
GPs will be able to refer employees for assessment by the new service once they are absent, or expected to be absent, from work due to illness for four weeks. Employers can also refer employees.
The work-focused occupational health assessment will identify the issues preventing an employee from returning to work and draw up a plan for them, their employer and GP, recommending how the employee can be helped back to work more quickly.
The plan will include a timetable for a return to work, fitness for work advice, as well as signpost to appropriate help. Employees will be supported throughout their time with the service, so they can return to work as soon as they are able to.
(CSV/CD)
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Employees Return To Work Following Explosives Discovery
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Employees Return To Work Following Explosives Discovery
Construction workers have returned to work on the new Queensferry Crossing site after the discovery of explosive materials during roadworks. Workers discovered demolition materials at 5pm on Wednesday during utility diversion works around the north approach roads close to the Crossing.
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Work helps recovery from long-term sickness, says HSE
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Returning to work as soon possible after illness is the best possible remedy for getting back to full health, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said.
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Network Rail have been handed a £14 million fine for overrunning engineering work. The penalty has been imposed by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for "systematic weaknesses" in NR's "planning and execution of engineering work". ORR said that this represented a "serious breach of its licence".
Network Rail Handed £14 Million Fine By Regulator
Network Rail have been handed a £14 million fine for overrunning engineering work. The penalty has been imposed by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for "systematic weaknesses" in NR's "planning and execution of engineering work". ORR said that this represented a "serious breach of its licence".
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Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a fall in construction output for the month of August. In August 2015, output in the UK's construction industry dropped by 4.3% compared with July 2015. Compared with August 2014, it fell by 1.3%, its first year-on-year fall since May 2013. All new work declined by 3.
UK Construction Output Falls In August
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a fall in construction output for the month of August. In August 2015, output in the UK's construction industry dropped by 4.3% compared with July 2015. Compared with August 2014, it fell by 1.3%, its first year-on-year fall since May 2013. All new work declined by 3.
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