The government has recently launched two new consultations on the use of occupational health services in the employment context:
- Occupational Health: Working Better: a DWP consultation seeking views on its proposals to increase OH services via:
- a new national ‘health at work’ standard – including guidance, accreditation and additional government-funded support services
- learning from the best practice of other countries and successful employer models that enable employers to provide better OH support for their staff
- developing work and health workforce capacity to create a multidisciplinary OH workforce
- Tax Incentives for Occupational Health: a joint HM Treasury and HMRC consultation considering how the tax system can better support employers to increase provision of OH services for their employees. Specifically, consideration is being given to adding the following additional areas to the current tax exemptions (within specific limits):
- health screenings for employees
- medical check-ups for employees
- treatments that aim to reduce workplace absence or enable employees to perform better
- flu vaccinations paid for by the employee and reimbursed by the employer
For further information, please contact:
Emma Ahmed, Hill Dickinson
emma.ahmed@hilldickinson.com
