Wellness in work - supporting people in work and assisting people to return to the workforce: An economic evidence review
Background and Aim
In Wales, there are currently 1.48 million people in employment and 58,300 people who are unemployed. This equates to an unemployment rate of 3.8% in Wales.
This Rapid Review follows on from the previous Wellness in Work report (Edwards et al., 2019) and aims to explore the economic benefits of keeping the workforce in good physical and emotional health. This information is then used to discuss the type of interventions which may be the most cost-effective in improving wellbeing at work. This is important as the physical and emotional wellness of the workforce has an impact on work productivity and ability to thrive in work.
Strategy
The review has specific focus on employment, unemployment and worklessness in Wales; different types of employers and self-employment; young people, older people and women in the workforce and the health and social care workforce.
76 papers between 2017-2023 were reviewed. 52 were primary studies and 24 were reviews or systematic reviews.
To ensure a wide variety of workplace interventions, the papers included in the report relate to common mental health conditions, severe mental health conditions, influenza vaccination, illicit drug use. The risk factors reviewed include smoking and vaping, healthy eating and physical activity.
To assess a good breadth of cost-effective interventions, studies included in the report address economic evaluations, return on investment analyses, and costing analyses or work-related outcomes of economic interest (i.e., employment rates, sickness absence, presenteeism, work productivity).
Findings
High-quality evidence suggests that interventions in the following areas could help improve cost savings and reduce absenteeism: Supporting employees at risk of common mental health disorders; Promoting healthy eating and physical activity; Influenza vaccination programs (where high numbers of workforce engage).
Moderate-quality evidence suggests standing desks are cost-effective in improving productivity.
Mixed evidence also suggests that the following interventions are cost-effective: Supporting employees with musculoskeletal conditions (including arthritis) differently to ‘usual care’; Workplace screening, self-guidance, individual placement support & workshops to reduce illicit drug use.
It is unclear whether workplace smoking cessation programmes are cost-effective in reducing smoking.
Impact
Taking care of the workforce is important for productivity, as physically and emotionally healthy employees are more able to thrive and remain in the workforce for longer.
There is a circular relationship between health and the economy. The UK is performing more poorly than other G7 nations in returning to pre-pandemic rates of employment, partly due to long waiting lists for elective surgery in the NHS.
Change to policies and procedures is needed to improve equal employment opportunities, regardless of age, gender or disability status.
Next steps
The study identified evidence base has gaps in the following areas:
Wellbeing and worklessness in older populations with particular focus on impact of missing social connections, mental stimulation & feeling confident and valued.
Women in work with particular interest in interventions for menopausal-age women and women with endometriosis.
Neurodiversity within the workforce with particular interest in interventions for those with severe/specific learning difficulties and autism. This is particularly pertinent as 70% of the population diagnosed with autism are not currently in employment.
Author: Olivia Gallen, PPG Member
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