11-05-2025
New strategy aims to boost Guernsey workforce's wellbeing
A new five-year plan has been launched aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of Guernsey's workforceThe States of Guernsey 's Work and Wellbeing Strategy is designed to help islanders with health conditions or disabilities to stay in or return to focuses on prevention, early intervention and better collaboration between the government, employers, health professionals and the third Tina Bury, member of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said: "People are better off, in terms of their wellbeing, if they are able to stay in work or the sooner they can return to work, the easier it will be for them."
'Personal journey'
The strategy builds on the existing SOHWELL Programme, which the States said led to improvements in early intervention and return-to-work to States figures, muscular, skeletal and mental health conditions account for around 60% of sickness benefit Gannon, team lead for benefits and work support, said: "We know that sickness is a personal journey and everyone will experience something different, so we will map out the support and occupational health services that could be available to somebody who has a particular health challenge."He continued: "We hope to provide advice about what reasonable adjustments could look like and how employers could implement this to support somebody back to work."A key focus of the strategy is helping people return to work gradually, with personalised support and new training for States said 51% of businesses did not use occupational health services, often due to lack of strategy also includes plans to pilot mid-life health checks, improve digital access to services and provide toolkits and training for strategy will run until 2030 hoping to reduce long-term sickness claims and support a more inclusive and productive workforce.
