120,000 workers off sick in the North West for more than a month

As many as 120,000 employees in the North West - and almost a million (966,000) across Britain - were on sick leave for a month or more each year on average between October 2010 and September 2013, the Government has revealed today, 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 its long-term economic plan, with almost a quarter of a million Brits coming off incapacity benefits since 2010 - and almost a million, who put in a claim, actually being 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 British economy £100bn a year.

The Health and Work Service will help employees who have been on sickness absence for four weeks to return to work, and support employers to better manage sickness absence among their workforce. It’s expected to save employers £70m a year and cut the time people spend off work by 20%-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 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.”

Key facts on sickness absence:

• Employers face a yearly bill of around £9billion for sick pay and associated costs with individuals missing out on £4billion a year in lost earnings.
• Around 300,000 people a year in Great Britain fall out of work and into the welfare system because of health-related issues;
• Taxpayers fund around £13bn a year on health-related sickness benefits and £2bn a year in healthcare, sick pay reimbursement (PTS) and other taxes.

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.

It will also provide an advice service on the internet and telephone for anyone who needs it.