Arthritis UK welcomes the Government's 'Keep Britain Working' review by Sir Charlie Mayfield

5 November 2025

'Keep Britain Working' Review tackles sickness absence from work

The 'Keep Britain Working' Review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, responds to the UK's rising economically inactive population, driven largely by ill health and disability. Over one-in-five working-age adults are out of the workforce, with ill health now the biggest driver of economic inactivity. The Government has stated the review will aim to overcome the barriers to work faced by disabled people by partnering with employers to reshape how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace with the launch of employer-led vanguards.

Three-year plan to tackle sickness absence

More than 60 employers of all sizes are joining forces with government to tackle the rising tide of ill-health that is pushing people out of work and holding back growth. The vanguard employers will develop and refine workplace health approaches over the next three years to build the evidence base for what works. They are committing to embracing the report’s healthy working lifecycle which aims to reduce sickness absence, improve return-to-work rates, and increase disability employment rates, which the Government will work towards developing into a voluntary certified standard by 2029.   

This review builds on the work the Government is doing to give businesses the skilled workforce they need by investing £1 billion annually in disability employment support by the end of the decade, giving people the skills and opportunities to move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs. 

Support to keep people in work

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said:
 
“Much more needs to be done to support people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) to remain in and return to work - which is why Arthritis UK welcomes the ‘Keep Britain Working’ review by Sir Charlie Mayfield. 
 
Far too many people living with arthritis are locked out of the workforce because of a failure to provide the right support and flexibility, including when they are wating for treatment. In a recent major YouGov survey of people with arthritis for Arthritis UK, 1 in 2 said that arthritis affects their ability to work, with nearly 4 in 10 reporting that they had been forced to stop work altogether. This means workplaces are missing out, the economy is losing out and people with arthritis are having valuable opportunities taken away from them.
 
This review is an important step in ensuring that people with disabilities, including fluctuating conditions such as arthritis, receive the right support and investment from the Government and employers. 
               
The ambition to see the role out of a new model of Workplace Health Provision is particularly exciting and we look forward to being an active partner with employers and the UK Government to ensure that this works for the 10 million people living with arthritis across the country.”

About Arthritis UK

Arthritis UK is the leading arthritis charity, changing lives through research, campaigning and support. 

Over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis. That’s one in six of us living with the pain, fatigue, disability, mental and financial strain it can cause. Many more live with arthritis but remain undiagnosed, untreated and unsupported. 

We know the impact of arthritis can be huge, affecting the ability to work, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. Yet for a condition affecting so many, it’s poorly understood and far too little is done. That’s why we invest in life-changing research into better treatments, support people through the daily challenges of life with arthritis, and campaign on the issues that matter most to people living with it. 

At Arthritis UK, we won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope for a cure in the future. Find out more at: www.arthritis-uk.org 

Arthritis UK. For a future free from arthritis.