Meifield says health checks are coming to workers

• Sir Charlie Meifield proposes introducing health checks for workers at the start of their shifts, so that employees can be monitored at a distance.
• In other words, at the time of such checks, companies will be able to determine whether employees are fit for work, or if they are not, by checking their health.
• The German initiative Get Britain Working says that 250 large employers may be introducing health checks for employees at the start of their shifts.

John Lewis chief executive director Charlie Meifield has said that health checks are coming to employees after the company’s new workplace policy, which will change how quickly employees are screened for health issues. It is said that this is in line with the Keep Britain Working plan.

The material notes that Meifield proposes introducing “health MOTs” for personnel. According to the company’s website, this scheme may allow employers to determine whether employees are healthy, and if so, to prevent problems. The idea is that such checks would be carried out at the start of shifts.

Meifield also argues that employers need to know whether employees are fit for work. According to him, this could be done by conducting health checks.

Commenting for BBC Radio 4 Today, Meifield says that the idea of working “stay in work” means that people might be able to remain in their jobs, even if they have health problems. He says that this could help solve the problem for the UK by keeping people employed.

According to the material, Meifield has published a list of companies that, he says, may be preventing employees from working by conducting health checks. The list includes 1% of 33 million people in the UK who, he says, are prevented from working due to illness. The material also notes that the UK’s economy could lose up to £85 billion a year due to this.

Meanwhile, a new BBC investigation finds that Meifield is promoting “unhealthy” intentions, claiming that the checks are necessary, but in fact they are being used to reduce economic losses. The investigation names 250 of the largest employers in the UK, including British Airways, Tesco, Royal Mail, and others, which, according to Get Britain Working, are already carrying out such checks.

BBC also reports that the group says that employers would be able to monitor employees’ health, and that the checks are a way to prevent health problems. It also states that official data show that the UK’s economy could lose £212 billion a year.

BBC adds that it has found that companies, which it says, are conducting health checks, are also using them to reduce the time employees are away from work. The material also notes that the checks are being carried out by companies such as Sainsbury’s, EDF Energy and Currys, as well as 10 other organisations based in London and Manchester.

Tags: Well-being/Europe/Politics