Employee assistance programmes and occupational health services

Many employers provide support to staff through EAPs, which offer helplines, counselling, and sickness absence monitoring. The Court of Appeal ruling in Sutherland v Hatton (see pages 36-37) emphasised the need for counselling services, although unions and others have raised concerns about the lack of fixed standards for EAP providers and the qualifications and training of counsellors. Some unions also provide their own confidential helplines for members suffering from stress at work.

UNISON says that priority must be given to prevention and early rehabilitation to maintain people’s links with work. There needs to be better regulatory oversight of occupational health standards and more support for employers on EAPs.

There are record numbers of people excluded from the labour market due to illness and disability, with mental health conditions the biggest contributors to people being off sick. The union says there must be adequate occupational health provision and better ways to manage health at work.

In 2025, UNISON and the Fabian Society will conduct research into occupational health that will run alongside engagement with ministers on the government’s Getting Britain Working initiative.