Commenting on the governmentís response to Dame Carol Blackís review of the health of the working age population, David Coats, associate director of policy at The Work Foundation, said:
ëThe governmentís response to Dame Carolís review offers a positive prospectus for real improvements in Britainís workplaces. We particularly welcome the new electronic fit note, the investment in GP training to ensure that GPs are aware of the routes through which work can affect health, the expansion of occupational health services and the commitment to a challenge fund, which will incentivise improvements in performance, especially in small and medium sized firms.
ëThe task now is to implement the recommendations and improve employer understanding of the relationships between work, health and organisational performance. The focus must shift to the organisation of work, the design of jobs and the performance of management. Healthy workplaces are those where employees are treated fairly and with respect, trust both their employer and their colleagues and believe that the efforts they make are properly rewarded.
ëNo-one should underestimate the scale of the ambition here. Many of Britainís workplaces have witnessed reductions in job quality over the last decade, with an intensification of work, widespread dissatisfaction with pay and a decline in the control that workers have over their jobs. Not just government but all stakeholders (including unions and employersí representatives) must shoulder their share of the responsibility for improving the quality of employment.í
Comment on the government response to the Black review of health and work
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