Learning and Work Institute was pleased to bring together speakers from Health Equals, West Midlands Combined Authority, TUC and Sheffield United Community Foundation to discuss ways to create healthier working lives.

Creating healthier working lives is a national priority. Good work is one of the building blocks of health, but poor-quality or insecure work can be worse for people’s health than being out of work. Good health is also good for growth and productivity: in 2022/23, 35.2 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injury.

Employers have a key role in promoting healthier work, but many lack the time, resource or expertise to support their workers’ health. New research from Learning and Work Institute, commissioned by Health Equals, shows that local governments are uniquely placed to engage with and support employers. The Government’s new proposals for skills, health and work plans provide an opportunity for local government to drive agendas for healthier work, though more detail is needed on how to realise these plans.

This interactive webinar explored practical considerations for how local government, employers and wider stakeholders can work together to create healthier working lives in their communities.

Speakers included:

• Paul McDonald, Chief Campaigns Officer, Health Equals (Chair)
• Dr Jess Elmore, Head of Programme – Employment and Better Work, Learning and Work Institute
• Julie Orrey, Senior Delivery Manager – Health and Employment, West Midlands Combined Authority
• Matthew Creagh, Policy Officer – Employment Rights, TUC
• Chris Bailey, Chief Executive, Sheffield United Community Foundation

Further resources from our speakers