June 2024
Price: £150 PLUS VAT
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This conference examined next steps for improving health and wellbeing in the workplace in the UK.
It was an opportunity to discuss key issues at a time of heightened focus on relevant policy in the run up to the General Election.
Delegates discussed priorities for a potential new voluntary occupational health framework for businesses and 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.
Sessions in the agenda assessed 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. The conference followed the government’s 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 discussed 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 also brought 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 also considered further options for policy and best practice to improve models of health-related employment support.
Keynote speakers who have agreed to take part include: Professor Dame Carol Black GBE, Chair, Centre for Ageing Better; Sarah Hughes, CEO, Mind; and Dr Sally Wilson, Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Employment Studies.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues in the presence of key policy officials who attended from DHSC; DWP; DLUHC; HSE; OLS; DBT; Department for Communities, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; DESNZ; DfT; DSIT; Estyn; FCDO; HMPPS; HMRC; Home Office; MoD; UKEF; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
