Supporting staff with chronic health conditions in the workplace
Industries like rail, construction , transport and logistics, energy and utilities and manufacturing rely on a healthy, capable workforce. But what happens when employees are managing chronic illnesses or long-term health conditions? As an employer, you play a pivotal role in not only managing risk and ensuring compliance, but also in enhancing the wellbeing, productivity and retention of your workforce.
This blog post explores practical strategies for supporting employees with chronic conditions, outlines industry-specific considerations, and looks at the impact of the upcoming winter months on wellbeing.
The scale of the challenge in the UK workforce
Chronic and long-term conditions are increasingly prevalent among the UK working-age population. According to the government publication Health Matters: Health and Work, around 12.8 million (31%) of working-age people in the UK have a long-term health condition. Of these, 82% are in employment. This suggests that the existence of a health condition does not in itself affect the likelihood of their continuing to work.
Additional data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that in 2023-24 there were approximately 1.7 million workers suffering from work-related ill health. The government now estimates that its combined costs from worklessness and sickness absence amount to approximately £100 billion annually. For employers, this means that supporting staff with chronic conditions isn’t optional - it’s essential to workforce sustainability.
Why chronic health conditions matter in the workplace
Industries like rail, construction, transport and logistics, energy and utilities and manufacturing often involve physically demanding work, shift patterns, and exposure to harsh environments such as cold, damp, or outdoor settings. These conditions increase the risk of musculoskeletal issues, fatigue, and other long-term health concerns.
In construction and utilities, winter weather and long hours can worsen arthritis, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory conditions. Transport and logistics roles often involve disrupted sleep, long sedentary periods, and repetitive manual handling, which can aggravate chronic illnesses. Manufacturing work may include heavy lifting, vibration, and prolonged standing, increasing the risk of MSK problems or worsening existing conditions.
Given these pressures, tailored occupational health services like medical assessments, health surveillance, physiotherapy, nutrition, medication advice, and mental health support are essential for helping employers and employees manage chronic conditions effectively.
How to support staff with chronic and long-term conditions
Supporting employees with chronic conditions requires a proactive, structured approach. Here are seven key steps:
Identify and Monitor Early
Encourage open conversations, use occupational health assessments, track absence patterns, and implement health surveillance for roles with known risk.Create Individual Care Plans
Work with employees and occupational health providers to tailor plans, consider flexible hours or phased returns, and signpost support schemes like Access to Work.Make Reasonable Adjustments
Adapt tasks, shifts, and equipment to reduce strain, and offer access to physiotherapy and nutrition advice where needed.Embed Preventative Support
Provide wellbeing programmes, seasonal health campaigns, and promote flu vaccinations and cold-weather guidance.Offer Psychological Support
Use Employee Assistance Programmes, provide mental health resources, and train managers to communicate openly and supportively.Train Managers and Leaders
Equip managers to recognise symptoms, manage absence appropriately, and apply policies that reflect long-term health realities.Use Data to Improve Continuously
Track health trends by role and season, review support annually, and adjust services to meet evolving workforce needs.
Conclusion
Supporting employees with chronic and long-term health conditions is no longer a “nice to have” but instead a business imperative. With UK statistics showing a high and rising prevalence of long-term conditions, the scale of the challenge is clear.
In sectors such as rail, construction, logistics, utilities and manufacturing, the demands of work make targeted occupational health support even more critical. As an experienced provider of occupational health services, we understand how offering the right range of interventions can help support employees with chronic and long-term health conditions.
If you’re looking to enhance your occupational health provision, we can help you explore how medicals, health surveillance, physiotherapy, nutrition, and mental health services can be integrated into your workplace strategy. Contact us to find out how these services can support your workforce and align with your industry’s specific health and safety needs.
Sources
Public Health England, Health matters: health and work
HSE, Work-related ill health and occupational disease in Great Britain
