Our research highlights increased health and wellbeing challenges for older employees.
Research undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Limited in September suggests that UK employers remain largely unprepared for the realities of an ageing workforce.
The recently published Keep Britain Working final report confirmed that the UK “is getting older and living longer and becoming sicker sooner”. Despite these findings more than half (55%) of the HR professionals questioned felt that UK employers were not fully aware of ageing workforce challenges. Indeed, just 7% of employers believe that existing wellbeing and absence management policies are sufficient to support older workers.
Steve’s thoughts
Steve Herbert, Brand Ambassador at Occupational Health Assessment Limited, observed;
“The UK workforce has been ageing rapidly in recent years as a result of pressures at both ends of the age range. Falling fertility rates are reducing the number of younger workers entering the workforce whilst the continued increases to the state retirement age results in older employees working for longer.
Around 1 in every 3 workers is already aged 50 and above. It is likely that this number will increase again in the years ahead.”
Benefits & challenges
Occupational Health Assessment Limited stress that older workers bring many benefits such as experience, reliability and fewer incidence of short-term absence.
Yet this same grouping are statistically more likely to be coping with one or more long-term health conditions. This can result in longer and more challenging periods of sickness absence. Our research suggests that employers already recognise these generational absence differences.
This assumption is supported by the Occupational Health Assessment Limited research which demonstrates that employers see greater incidence of short-term absences for younger (31%) and mid-career (35%) employees, whilst older workers are absent less frequently (5%). Yet older workers are five times more likely to experience a long-term absence than a colleague under age 30.
Interestingly the HR experts who responded to the survey felt that mid-career workers (those aged 30 – 50) are the grouping most prone to both short and long-term absences.
Magnus’ comments
Magnus Kauders, Managing Director of Occupational Health Assessment Limited, said;
“The simple realities of ageing suggest that older workers may require a deeper level of support to stay healthy and at work for longer.
It would however be a mistake to focus on older-worker support in isolation. Our research – and that of the “Keep Britain Working” review – clearly demonstrates that employers must provide improved health and wellbeing support across the age ranges if they are to combat increased absence, poor wellbeing, and lower productivity.
We would strongly urge employers to revisit their health and wellbeing policies and consider the use of occupational health services to support more positive outcomes.
We sincerely hope that mention of The Keep Britain Working review is included in the Budget, and hope that The Chancellor will consider incentives to encourage employers to offer greater workplace wellbeing support.”
Ends
Press release issued 19/11/2025
About Occupational Health Assessment Ltd
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd is an SEQOHS Accredited and Certified B-Corp nationwide occupational health provider.
We provide rapid access to expert occupational health support for businesses right across the United Kingdom. Appointments are available nationwide within two days.
With a unique occupational health assessment service, night worker health assessments, fitness certifications and access to clinics in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke, Surrey and more, the business provides high quality, expert medical advice.
Please contact us for further information or assistance.