Call for end to longterm sickness absence

The Government has called for a review of the sickness absence system in Great Britain in order to help combat the £100 billion that working age ill health costs the economy every year.

The independent review, jointly chaired by David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce and Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, will explore new ways on how the current system can be changed to help more people stay in work and reduce costs.

Under the current system employers bear the costs of short term sickness with the State, and ultimately the taxpayer, absorbing the cost of longer-term ill-health, with over 300,000 people leaving work to claim sicknessrelated benefits each year - making up around half the total flow on to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The review, which is jointly sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, will include a panel of experts from business, trade unions and health representatives and will be conducted in the context of the Growth Agenda.