People absent from work due to illness should maintain telephone contact with their employer, according to Sir Charlie Mayfield, the government-appointed leader of the Keep Britain Working taskforce.
Direct conversation between managers and staff, rather than reliance on email exchanges and medical certificates alone, could facilitate swifter returns to employment, Sir Charlie argued. His analysis found that health-related economic inactivity costs the nation approximately £212m annually through benefit expenditure and foregone economic output.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Charlie characterised telephone communication as merely "one piece of the jigsaw" in addressing workplace sickness. The taskforce report advocates for expanded workplace support systems, external assistance for individuals with health conditions and disabilities, and the creation of a Workplace Health System operating in parallel with the NHS.
Beyond practical measures, improved dialogue serves to "rehumanise" the workplace and mitigate the risk of workers withdrawing from employment entirely, he suggested.
The report makes clear that it does not expect employees suffering acute illnesses such as influenza to conduct work conversations while symptomatic, nor does it demand that managers offer emotional support to staff incapacitated by food poisoning or similar short-term ailments.
"I'm not worried about a day here and a day there. It is more about longer term issues," Sir Charlie told the BBC's Today Programme.
However, he contended that Britain manages workplace sickness poorly, resulting in growing numbers of workers becoming disengaged and ultimately exiting the workforce.
"I have met so many people who have said to me, 'You know, I was signed off sick and I was off sick for a month, two months, three months, and I had almost no contact with my employer',"Sir Charlie recounted.
The report indicates that approximately 300,000 individuals leave employment annually due to health conditions, a substantial proportion of which could be prevented through better management.
Why do workers and employers avoid these conversations?
Employees frequently harbour anxiety about disclosing long-term health issues to their employers, Sir Charlie explained. Simultaneously, managers experience comparable apprehension about engaging with such matters.
"But the fear is also felt by employers as well because they're afraid of causing offence or creating a complaint or a grievance,"he noted.
This mutual reluctance generates distance and misunderstanding, he cautioned. Extended periods away from work amplify the likelihood that an employee will permanently leave the labour market.
What economic opportunity exists?
Retaining more workers in employment represents a substantial economic opportunity for the nation, Sir Charlie argued.
"If you can keep more people in work, there's a massive opportunity for us to add billions to the economy and, frankly, to people's livelihoods,"he stated.
"To get that, though, you need to have people talking to each other, and you've got to more actively manage sickness and ill health in the workplace."
Both employers and employees must assume greater responsibility, he insisted. Organisations should guarantee staff access to interventions including physiotherapy and psychological support services.
What is the government's implementation plan?
The government has moved the Keep Britain Working programme into an active delivery phase. According to an official government announcement on 23 September 2026, the administration will establish a first Workplace Health System incorporating earlier intervention for individuals with health conditions or disabilities and a strengthened employer role in supporting worker wellbeing.
The latest government update characterises the initiative as an "emerging direction" centred on shared accountability, enhanced data collection, and tailored plans to help workers remain in or return to employment, according to government guidance published in July 2026. The programme is being jointly led by Sir Charlie Mayfield alongside three Secretaries of State, with employers expected to take an active role in managing health and wellbeing in their organisations.
The independent review, which was finalised on 31 March 2026, established the rationale for transforming the UK's approach to health, work, and disability. The government has initiated a three-year vanguard phase to test employer-led solutions and develop a Healthy Working Lifecycle framework alongside new Workplace Health Provision models.
What happens next?
The programme is progressing through its implementation phase, with the latest government update published on 23 September 2026. According to official sources, support for the Keep Britain Working initiative is expanding across employers and regions as the delivery phase advances, with ongoing coordination between government departments and participating organisations.
Key Facts
- Health-related economic inactivity costs Britain approximately £212m annually in benefit payments and lost economic output
- Around 300,000 people leave work each year with a health condition, much of which is preventable
- The government is establishing a Workplace Health System to operate alongside the NHS, with implementation beginning in 2026
- The Keep Britain Working programme is jointly led by Sir Charlie Mayfield and three Secretaries of State, with employers expected to actively manage workplace health
