A report summarized activity to date in the incapacity benefit reforms 'Pathways to Work' pilots.
Source: Billy Blyth, Pathways to Work Performance Summary, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Dec
Researchers examined existing evidence on the economic and social costs and benefits to employers of retaining, recruiting, and employing disabled people and/or people with a health condition or an injury. Many benefits were claimed for businesses that employed disabled people: employers cited access to a wider pool of skills, improved morale, better retention rates, and similar indirect business benefits. But hard evidence on values for costs and benefits to employers of employing disabled people was 'nearly impossible' to find.
Source: Karen Needels and Robert Schmitz (eds.), Economic and Social Costs and Benefits to Employers of Retaining, Recruiting and Employing Disabled People and/or People with Health Conditions or an Injury: A review of the evidence, Research Report 400, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Dec
The government launched a three-year initiative on mental health in the workplace, designed to get employers to sign up to a set of anti-stigma principles - for example, making changes in the work environment and employment practices, so that people with mental health problems were treated fairly, and equally with others. Just 20 per cent of those with severe mental health problems had jobs, compared with 65 per cent who had physical problems.
Source: Action on Stigma: Promoting mental health, ending discrimination at work, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | DH press release | MHF press release | DRC press release | Rethink press release | Community Care report | Personnel Today report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Oct
A study found that tax incentives for employers intended to encourage workplace health initiatives that would reduce absence from work were not being widely taken up. The incentives had the potential to save the economy £13.2 billion per annum.
Source: Edward Bramley-Harker, Gordon Hughes and Joshua Farahnik, Sharing the Costs ? Reaping the Benefits: Incentivising return to work initiatives, NERA Economic Consulting (020 7659 8500)
Links: Report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Oct
An article examined how statutory sick pay had evolved over time, and examined the key sources of data that could inform policy development on sick pay arrangements. It exposed the lack of available information concerning SSP, and provided details of a feasibility study that the government had commissioned (but shelved) for a new survey to identify a baseline of SSP payments and costs. Developing a dedicated survey would be vital if the government revisited options to reform SSP in the future.
Source: Jane Barrett, 'Simplifying statutory sick pay: the evidence could be better', Benefits, Volume 14 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Oct
An article examined the processes associated with exiting different sectors of the labour market and making a claim for incapacity benefits. People could have complex conditions that potentially required a holistic and integrated policy approach. Those in the lower sector of the labour market, especially, sometimes perceived that their employment prospects were limited: sometimes by their health, sometimes by the area they lived in, sometimes by the qualifications needed to do what they termed 'good jobs', and sometimes by all of those factors.
Source: Jacqueline Davidson, 'From work to incapacity benefits: ill health, skills, stress and insecurity', Benefits, Volume 14 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Oct
Research showed general support among incapacity benefit recipients for the principles of the Pathways to Work programme: but the panel emphasized the importance of the intervention coming at the right time, and the support offered suiting the circumstances of individual people.
Source: Anne Corden and Katharine Nice, Pathways to Work: Findings from the final cohort in a qualitative longitudinal panel of incapacity benefits recipients, Research Report 398, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Oct
A report explored the reasons for variation in performance between new and existing job brokers under the New Deal for Disabled People programme. Job brokers performance was found to be affected by a range of factors, including changes to the way in which the programme was monitored, relationships between Jobcentre Plus and job brokers, and by environmental and contextual considerations.
Source: Abigail Davis, Elspeth Pound and Bruce Stafford, New Deal for Disabled People Extensions: Examining the role and operation of new job brokers, Research Report 384, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Sep
A report presented selected findings from an evaluation of the New Deal for Disabled People. It covered developments up to and including spring 2004, and synthesized findings from fieldwork with NDDP participants, employers, members of the eligible population, those delivering the programme, and from administrative data. The research evidence was of steady progress in terms of outcomes and institutional developments.
Source: Bruce Stafford et al., New Deal for Disabled People: Second synthesis report Interim findings from the evaluation, Research Report 377, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Aug
A report evaluated two modernization funds established to improve provision of a supported employment programme ('WORKSTEP') for disabled people facing the most significant or complex barriers to finding and keeping a job.
Source: Ann Purvis, Lindsay Smith, James Lowrey and Lynn Dobbs, WORKSTEP Modernisation Funds Evaluation, Research Report 378, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Aug
A report said that the National Health Service should employ more people who had used mental health services. A more diverse workforce would provide more sensitive services and change the them and us culture.
Source: Patience Seebohm and Bob Grove, Leading by Example: Making the NHS an exemplar employer of people with mental health problems, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (020 7827 8300)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that the government target of a one million reduction in the number of people on incapacity benefits within 10 years might be far too ambitious. Based on previous performance, rolling out the 'pathways to work' initiative across the whole country might reduce the number of IB claimants by no more than half a million.
Source: Steve Fothergill and Ian Wilson, A Million Off Incapacity Benefit: How achievable is the government s target?, Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research/Sheffield Hallam University (0114 225 3073)
Links: Report | Scope press release
Date: 2006-Jul
The health and safety at work inspectorate said the view that public sector workers took more sick leave than their private sector counterparts was misleading. There was evidence of higher rates of employer under-recording of employee absence within the private sector, especially within smaller businesses.
Source: Press release 7 July 2006, Health and Safety Executive (020 7717 6700)
Links: HSE press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Jul
The government announced the national roll-out of the 'pathways to work' programme. It said that pilots had already helped to get 25,000 people back into work. The programme would be available to all new incapacity benefits claimants by April 2008.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 4 July 2006, columns 33-35WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DWP press release | PCS press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A report analyzed the results from the third cohort of a survey of participants in the New Deal for Disabled People - designed to identify their characteristics, and their experiences of (and views on) the programme. There was tentative evidence that the higher proportion of job entries for 'pathways to work' areas compared to elsewhere might be attributable to the incapacity benefit reforms implemented in the pilot areas.
Source: Kate Legge et al., New Deal for Disabled People: Survey of Registrants - Report of Cohort 3, Research Report 369, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Jul
A government-commissioned report examined a range of possible scenarios for the Remploy business (giving factory employment to disabled people), including the option of complete closure. The average annual subsidy for Remploy factory workers was 18,000 per person, with the highest subsidies over 48,000 per person - compared with other supported employment that cost 5,000 per person per year. The government rejected complete closure, and confirmed a 5-year funding package: but it said that the company needed to modernize to become financially sustainable and improve efficiency.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers and Stephen Duckworth, Remploy: Review of Future Business Options, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176) | Press release 19 July 2006, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: Report | Summary | Hansard | DWP press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jul
A survey found that absences among workers fell in 2005. The average absence rate fell from nearly 8.5 days per worker per year to 8. Absence remained higher in the public sector than in private firms.
Source: Ben Willmott, Absence Management: Survey report July 2006, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (020 8971 9000)
Links: Report | CIPD press release | TUC press release | TSN press release | Personnel Today report | Times report | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that mental health-related absence was costing employers more than 9 billion per year. Only 3 per cent of senior managers believed their company had an effective policy for dealing with stress and mental ill-health in the workplace.
Source: Mental Health: the Last Workplace Taboo, Shaw Trust (01225 716300)
Links: Report | Summary | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Jun
A trade union report said that far too few disabled people who wanted to work were being recruited by employers; and too many disabled employees, including workers who had become disabled after being injured at work, were losing their jobs.
Source: Jobs for Disabled People, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294)
Links: Report | TUC press release
Date: 2006-May
A survey found that nearly 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of employers admitted to not considering incapacity benefit claimants with a history of mental ill-health for employment; and 1 in 10 (10 per cent) made the same judgement for claimants with a history of physical ill-health.
Source: Quarterly Survey Report: Spring 2006, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (020 8971 9000) and KPMG
Links: Report | KPMG press release
Date: 2006-May
A report examined the early impact of the 'pathways to work' pilots on employment, earnings, receipt of incapacity benefits, and a potential indicator of the extent to which individuals' health affected their everyday activities.
Source: Stuart Adam, Carl Emmerson, Christine Frayne and Alissa Goodman, Early Quantitative Evidence on the Impact of the Pathways to Work Pilots, Research Report 354, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-May
A study found that working days lost through sickness absence were at their lowest level in 20 years, after the total fell in 2005 by 4 million days, to 164 million.
Source: Absence Minded: Absence and labour turnover 2006, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247) with AXA
Links: CBI press release | DWP press release | TUC press release | BBC report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-May
A report said that managing disability as a business priority benefited both business and the wider community.
Source: Rhiannon Suter, Susan Scott-Parker and Simon Zadek, Realising Potential: Disability confidence builds better business, Employers Forum on Disability (020 7403 3020)
Links: EFD press release
Date: 2006-May
A report examined people's experience and use of the 'return to work credit' (an earnings supplement available to incapacity benefit recipients who move into paid work).
Source: Anne Corden and Katharine Nice, Pathways to Work from Incapacity Benefits: A study of experience and use of return to work credit, Research Report 353, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-May
Two qualitative research reports were published on the 'pathways to work' incapacity benefit reform pilots. The first report examined customer views and experiences of the pilot over a period of nine months. The second report focused on the experiences of programme managers and practitioners. There was evidence to suggest that participants in the pilots could be helped to take suitable jobs, to see paid work as a more immediate possibility, or to become more focused on work.
Source: Anne Corden and Katharine Nice, Incapacity Benefit Reforms Pilot: Findings from the second cohort in a longitudinal panel of clients, Research Report 345, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040) | Helen Barnes and Maria Hudson, Pathways to Work: Qualitative research on the Condition Management Programme, Research Report 346, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report 345 | Summary 345 | Report 346 | Summary 346 | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Apr
An article said that many mental health service users were interested in pursuing employment, education or training goals, but lacked the support they needed to do so. Implementation of an evidence-based approach to employment support had the potential to enable service users to achieve their goals.
Source: Jenny Seckler and Leslie Gelling, 'Still dreaming: service users' employment, education and training goals', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 15 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A study examined the design, delivery and performance of the 'WORKSTEP' programme (a supported employment programme aimed at disabled people facing the most significant or complex barriers to finding and keeping a job.) It said that the programme clearly provided invaluable support to many people who would be unlikely to find and sustain employment via any other route.
Source: Ann Purvis, James Lowrey and Lynn Dobbs, WORKSTEP Evaluation Case Studies: Exploring the design, delivery and performance of the WORKSTEP Programme, Research Report 348, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Apr
A survey examined public bodies' approach to implementing the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. The Act was a major factor that influenced the changes made by organizations which took part in the survey, in terms of employment and service provision, accessibility of information, and buildings strategy. It was also the main reason given by respondents for integrating disability issues into their mainstream plans.
Source: Simon Roberts, Antonia Ivaldi, Monica Magadi, Viet-Hai Phung and Bruce Stafford, Public Sector and Equality for Disabled People, Research Report 343, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Apr
The government announced (in the 2006 Budget) a review of the policies needed to improve mental health outcomes and employment, recognizing that too many people were excluded from the world of work.
Source: Budget 2006: A strong and strengthening economy - Investing in Britain s future, Cm 968, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | HMT press release | SEU press release
Date: 2006-Mar
A survey aimed to establish the characteristics of the population eligible for the New Deal for Disabled People - including their work aspirations, and their awareness of, attitudes to and involvement with, the NDDP.
Source: Candice Pires, Anne Kazimirski, Andrew Shaw, Roy Sainsbury and Angela Meah, New Deal for Disabled People Evaluation: Eligible Population Survey, Wave Three, Research Report 324, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Mar
An article examined the challenges of applying a 'barriers' approach to a disability employment monitoring schemes. It emphasized the importance of disability employment monitoring if disabled people were to be better represented and receive equitable treatment in the workplace.
Source: Alan Roulstone and Jon Warren, 'Applying a barriers approach to monitoring disabled people s employment: implications for the Disability Discrimination Act 2005', Disability & Society, Volume 21 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
An article examined how family doctor and patient gender interacted to influence the outcome of consultation - in particular, the effect of gender interaction on the duration of patients' certified sickness.
Source: Christopher Shiels and Mark Gabbay, 'The influence of GP and patient gender interaction on the duration of certified sickness absence', Family Practice, Volume 23 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
A report analyzed variations in the employment prospects of disabled people in the light of their differing demographic characteristics, economic opportunities, and impairments.
Source: Richard Berthoud, The Employment Rates of Disabled People, Research Report 298, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Mar
Two linked reports evaluated the job retention and rehabilitation pilot, which sought to test additional help for those off work due to sickness and ill-health to return to, and retain, their job. Overall, the interventions had no significant impact on the group of people recruited into the trial across key return-to-work measures.
Source: Christopher Farrell, Katharine Nice, Jane Lewis and Roy Sainsbury, Experiences of the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot, Research Report 339, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040) | Christopher Farrell, Katharine Nice, Jane Lewis and Roy Sainsbury, Impacts of the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot, Research Report 342, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report 339 | Summary 339 | Report 342 | Summary 342 | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Mar
An article examined how family doctors decided whether or not to offer a sick note. Doctors were more likely to offer a sick note to patients with a psychological problem. Issuing sick notes was unrelated to the patient's family circumstances or patient demand.
Source: Amaryllis Campbell and Jane Ogden, 'Why do doctors issue sick notes? An experimental questionnaire study in primary care', Family Practice, Volume 23 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Feb
An inspectorate report said that inadequate training and support were preventing people with disabilities from achieving their potential in the workplace.
Source: Greater Expectations: Provision for learners with disabilities, Adult Learning Inspectorate (0870 240 7744)
Links: Report | ALI press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A discussion paper said that employers could do more to support employees experiencing problems with mental health and stress.
Source: Heather Rolfe, Jim Foreman and Andre Tylee, Welfare or Farewell? Mental health and stress in the workplace, Discussion Paper 268, National Institute for Economic and Social Research (020 7654 1901)
Links: Paper | NIESR press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A private member's Bill was introduced to give workers who become disabled time off work in order to assess whether and how they could keep their job.
Source: Rehabilitation Leave Bill, John Robertson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2006-Jan