Scheme to battle long-term sickness launched

20 February 2009

The government has committed £13 million to a pilot scheme aimed at reducing long-term sick levels.

Categories: Working life  |  People management  |  Health & wellbeing

A £13 million scheme aimed at getting people back into work following sickness has been launched by the government.

The Fit For Work pilot scheme will look at various ways of offering help and support to those who are off work due to ill health, with the aim of aiding their recovery.

Among the things on offer will be skills and employment advice, vocational rehabilitation services and conciliation to overcome disputes between employees and workers.

Care services minister Phil Hope said: "Good health for the workforce is good for business - every employer knows that. In the current economic climate it's even more important that we cut the £100 billion cost of worklessness caused by ill health."

The government is looking for organisations to volunteer in the pilot scheme, he added.

Earlier this week, Ian Tomlinson-Roe, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, claimed that firms will have to consider external factors such as the demographics of local communities in order to ensure sickness levels do not rise during the economic downturn.ADNFCR-1459-ID-19036996-ADNFCR

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