Autumn Statement 23: Protection and health industry reaction

'Too focused on sick and disabled adults already out of work, rather than how to prevent the illnesses'

Jaskeet Briah
clock • 5 min read

Protection and health insurance industry participants offer their thoughts on the Autumn Statement, with a focus on announcements on the government’s Back to Work Plan and voluntary occupational health (OH) framework.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt yesterday (22 November) announced a slew of measures to help disabled people back into work, ranging from reform of the fit note system and the announcement of a new universal support programme. Julia Turney, partner at independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham, said that although it was good to see the government take an innovative approach to tackling a sensitive issue, the plans are still high-level and vague at this stage. "Success (or failure) depends on execution. We can't burden employers with more compliance but instead can arm them with accessible, cos...

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