TO BE PUBLISHED June 2024
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This conference will examine next steps for improving health and wellbeing in the workplace in the UK.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for the new voluntary occupational health framework for businesses, being developed by the new Occupational Health Taskforce and expected to be published this summer. The framework will outline minimum levels of occupational health needed to mitigate sickness-related job losses, with aims to help businesses support employees in returning to work after a period of ill health.
The Taskforce was launched by the Government earlier this year and is being led by Professor Dame Carol Black GBE, who is a keynote speaker at this conference.
With the Taskforce announcing funding to develop innovative models of occupational health, improve occupational health capability and capacity, and increase access for SMEs, the conference will also explore options for the creation and implementation of a national baseline standard for health in the workplace, looking at addressing barriers to meeting demand, and priorities for investment into occupational health.
Delegates will assess key issues and priorities going forward for businesses, including the way forward for tackling in-work sickness and inactivity, and the role and responsibilities of employers in safeguarding the physical and mental health of their workforce. It follows government consultations for Tax Incentives for Occupational Health, and Occupational Health: Working Better, which looked at ways of increasing employer uptake of occupational health.
Further sessions discuss the way forward for improving mental health in the workplace, the future role of AI in this area and support for employees working from home.
The agenda will also bring out latest thinking on enhancing the inclusion of people with physical and mental conditions, following the announcement of a £2bn package in the 2023 Spring Budget to support disabled people and those with health conditions to start and stay in work. Discussion will consider the forthcoming launch of Government’s WorkWell service in the autumn which aims to support long term sick or disabled people to start and stay in work through integrated work and health support, as well as further options for policy and best practice to improve models of health-related employment support.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Professor Dame Carol Black GBE, Chair, Centre for Ageing Better and Occupational Health Taskforce, DWP; Dr Sally Wilson, Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Employment Studies; and a senior speaker confirmed from Mind.
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from DBT; DHSC; DWP; DLUHC; HSE; Department for Communities, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; DESNZ; DfT; DSIT; FCDO; HMPPS; HMRC; Home Office; OLS; The Scottish Government; UKEF; and the Welsh Government; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
