Record numbers of people are now unable to work full time, or are not working at all. The vast majority want to work, and would be able to do so with simple measures and adjustments in place, such as increased flexibility and tailored support to name just a couple.
It just does not make business sense for so many people to experience barriers to finding or staying in employment, and it does not help the economy either.
This is something our CEO, Laura Evans, has been talking about and advising employers on throughout the pandemic. Laura has also coached a number of people learning to live with long-term illness and disability who have gone on to secure permanent employment or return to work with reasonable adjustments.
Laura said:
“Apparently, we are seeing a large rise in people aged 16-34 being unemployed, depriving workplaces of younger talent and new ideas. This also means many workers falling into this age group are missing out on important development in their early careers, which will have long term impacts on employment and the labour market for generations if employers do not work hard now to buck this worrying trend.
“In workplaces, as in life, we have to play the cards that are dealt. There are proactive measures all employers can put in place to reduce risks and help maintain people in employment when they are sick whilst ensuring individuals have autonomy over their recovery. These measures are inexpensive in comparison to the expense of supporting absence and resulting lost productivity.”
April 2024