LONDON, (Special Correspondent) — A new report published in the Guardian online has revealed that unless the UK government and employers take adequate measures to protect workers’ health, an additional 600,000 people could be forced to leave employment over the next decade due to long-term health conditions.

According to the latest analysis by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), more than 3.3 million adults are expected to become economically inactive by 2035 due to various health issues, potentially costing the British economy £36 billion annually.

The report warns that this projected 26% increase in long-term health-related inactivity is equivalent to the entire population of Bristol leaving the workforce. Experts have urged that offices and workplaces must be transformed into centres that promote physical and mental well-being, addressing common issues such as mental health problems, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders.

These findings come ahead of the government’s upcoming “Keep Britain Working Review”, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, which is expected to make key recommendations for both the government and private sector to tackle health-related inactivity and encourage the creation of inclusive, healthy workplaces.

William Roberts, Chief Executive of the RSPH, said:
“The UK’s productivity crisis is being fuelled by long-term health issues within the workforce. We urgently need a fundamental shift in how we view employers’ responsibility for keeping people healthy — supported by a national standard that applies to all employees.”
The report recommends introducing a National Health and Work Standard to ensure that all UK workers receive a minimum level of health and well-being support at work.

Sam Atwell, Policy and Research Manager at the Health Foundation, said:
“The deteriorating health of the working-age population is one of the government’s biggest challenges. The only sustainable way to address this is to help people stay healthy and in work for longer.”

He added that both the government and employers should develop clear standards and provide access to specialised “caseworker” support to help employees remain healthy and productive.

A previous RSPH study found that nearly half of the UK workforce lacks access to basic workplace health support — including flu vaccinations and cardiovascular screenings.
Jamie O’Halloran, Senior Research Fellow at the Health Foundation, emphasised the role of employers in tackling economic inactivity:

“A healthier workforce benefits not only the government but also businesses — through lower staff turnover, improved performance, and higher productivity.”