New health and disability support service seeks feedback

Support with employee health and disability online service is aimed at employers and managers of smaller businesses who may not have in-house HR support or access to an occupational health service.

Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions, it follows the government’s 2019 consultation, ‘Health is everyone’s business’, in which employers asked for joined-up advice on supporting health in the workplace.

Speaking to HR magazine, Angela Matthews, head of policy and research at the Business Disability Forum, said: "There has been a long wait between the previous Fit for Work Service ending and this service commencing.”

“Smaller businesses often don’t have a dedicated HR function, let alone a D&I specialist, we are therefore pleased that the government is working on this much-awaited alternative to help small employers support their staff and keep them well.”

She added: “The service must be able to provide advice on a diverse range of workplace health issues and ‘life’ situations, including everything from becoming disabled, poor health or wellbeing as a result of grief or loss, and menopause-related situations."

The service asks questions about the user’s situation and gives advice based on answers given.

It says that guidance will help with managing absences, having conversations with your employee ‘in and out of work’ and deciding on changes to help someone stay or come back to work.

The DwP wants people to try it out and provide feedback to improve it by 9 March.

Visit the Support with employee health and disability website here