These help keep employees healthy and in work, while also supporting employers in helping their workforce in the best way possible.
However, there are changes that could be made to incentivise smaller employers, in particular to do more to deliver the improvements that the manifesto proposals offer. This might include rebates where they invest in approved wellbeing services.
In our view, it would also make sense for the tax system to recognise explicitly the role for vocational rehabilitation and avoid any arbitrage that could otherwise occur.
In a changing workplace and healthcare environment, these services will become more and more important. Any new government should recognise the value that insurers and others offer partners to boosting the productivity of the UK workforce and reducing economic inactivity.
Joanna Scott is technical and industry affairs managers L&H at Swiss Re
