The public see responsibilities for individuals, employers and government in enabling more people with health conditions to stay in employment and return to work
Since the pandemic more people of working age have been unable to work because of ill health. This has a negative impact on the UK economy.
New Ipsos data collected in November 2024, for the Health Foundation’s policy polling programme via our UK KnowledgePanel, explores the perceived responsibilities of individuals, employers, government and NHS have in addressing this issue. This is linked to the report of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives.
Our polling reveals, nearly all of the public think that people of working age who have long-term conditions have a great deal or fair amount of responsibility for returning to their job following long-term sickness absence due to a long-term health condition (91%), finding work after a period of being without a job due to a long-term health condition (90%) and managing their conditions so they can continue to work (88%).
Employers are also seen to have responsibilities, in particular for supporting their employees to return to work following long-term sickness absence due to a long-term health condition (86%) or to support employees to manage their long-term health conditions so they can continue to work (83%). They are seen as having a little less responsibility for supporting people who have had a period of being without a job due to a long-term health condition to find work (69%).
Government is seen to have less responsibility than individuals and employers for supporting people to manage their long-term conditions to stay in work (78% think they have a great deal or fair amount of responsibility, compared with 88% for people of working age who have long-term health conditions that limit the work they can do and 83% for employers). However, the government is still assigned responsibility by around three-quarters of the public for this, as well as for supporting people to find work following a period of being without a job due to a long-term health condition (78%) and supporting people to return to their job following long-term sickness due to a long-term health condition (74%).
The public are slightly more likely to think the NHS should not consider people's working status when prioritising care and treatment, than that it should. While 42% think that the NHS should not consider people's working status when prioritising care and treatment (even if this means some people are not able to work for longer), 35% think it should prioritise people unable to work because of their health condition, so that they can get back into work (even if it means that other people might have to wait slightly longer).
For more information about findings from the survey on other topics:
- Download the slide pack from the Health Foundation's website
- Read our key takeaways from the seventh survey
Technical note
The survey was conducted between 21 and 27 November 2024 using Ipsos' UK KnowledgePanel, a random probability online panel. We surveyed 2,198 people aged 16 years and older in the UK. A response rate of 58% was achieved. The sample was reviewed on key demographics to ensure a balanced sample was selected. Weighting was applied to the data to ensure the survey results are as representative of the UK population as possible. Calibration weighting was applied to region and an interlocked variable of Gender by Age; and demographic weights were applied to Education, Ethnicity, Index of Multiple Deprivation (quintiles), and number of adults in the household.
The survey covers a range of public perceptions including expectations and perceptions of the NHS and social care; awareness and views of the 10 Year Health Plan; views of social care reform; view of NHS funding; views on private healthcare.
