Rehabilitation: The unsung hero of getting back to work
03/13/2024
With recent news and research finding that one in three workers in the UK has a long-term health condition – around 10.3 million – there is increasing importance on the use of rehabilitation services to help those in need return to work.
With recent news and research finding that one in three workers in the UK has a long-term health condition – around 10.3 million – there is increasing importance on the use of rehabilitation services to help those in need return to work.
At current rates, and with 2023 being the third year in a row that has seen an increase in lost productivity as £32.7bn in the year followed on from £30.7bn in 2022 and £24.6bn in 2021.
£66bn in lost productivity by 2030
At the current rate of increase, work absences due to long-term sickness will cost the economy over £66bn a year by 2030.
According to Peter Hamilton, Head of Market Engagement at Zurich: “Work absences due to long-term sickness hurt the individual, the employer, and the wider economy. There are plenty of opportunities to bring the number of absences down – we’re simply not making the most of them.”
Long periods of absence can contribute to more medical issues, so that the original condition is often combined with mental health struggles, anxiety, and general repercussions of being out of ‘normal life’ for long periods of time.
Importance of rehabilitation in improving return-to-work rates
Zurich has partnered with Invictus Games Gold medallist JJ Chalmers to raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation, calling on organisations to follow the military’s lead when it comes to helping improve employees chances of a successful return to the workplace.
“It’s in the toughest times when you really realise who you have in your corner. Luckily, the Royal Marines were like an extended family for me and were firmly in mine, but for too many people, their employers don’t even consider the importance of this kind of support.”
“Businesses really need to take a leaf out of the military’s book – if you want a resilient and motivated workforce, your people need to know you will offer the right help when people really need it. Through this process of recovery, it can make us much more resilient and stronger all round.”
You can learn more about JJ’s story and the importance of rehabilitation below.
