The first ever report into the relationship between health and work has been published by the UK government.
Carol Black's report 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow' lacks a gender analysis but it does make clear the close link between work and health. Work can cause ill health; ill-health can make work difficult causing poverty and more ill health.
The report cites the Work Fit programme run by the Men's Health Forum (England) with telecommunications provider BT as an example of good practice.
Welcoming the report, MHF CEO Peter Baker said: "Carol Black's report presents the now undeniable case for much greater investment in workplace health improvement programmes. What is often overlooked, however, is the particular opportunity that exists for improving the still poor state of men's health through well-targeted workplace initiatives. The evidence is that this can significantly improve men's knowledge of health, detect potentially serious conditions earlier and improve their health outcomes. We very much hope the Government will take this into account when it responds to the report later in the year."
Some 2.2 million British workers currently have an illness that was caused or made worse by their work.
