Income protection and wider workplace support are increasingly critical as workers grapple with health and wellbeing pressures, Royal London has said.
The comments follow publication today of the Survey of Employees and Self-Employed Workers 2024–2025, produced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in collaboration with the Government Social Research Profession.
The survey examines how employees and self-employed people manage their health at work, the support available to them, and the barriers they face when recovering from illness or injury.
The findings land against a backdrop of persistently high levels of sickness-related economic inactivity.
LONG-TERM SICKNESS
According to the Office for National Statistics, around 2.8 million people were economically inactive due to long-term sickness in 2024, a figure that remains well above pre-pandemic levels.
Policymakers have repeatedly highlighted the link between health, financial resilience and labour market participation, with the government prioritising a return-to-work agenda as part of its wider growth strategy.
The DWP survey suggests that timely intervention and access to appropriate support can significantly influence whether individuals are able to remain in work or return sooner after a period of ill health.
It also highlights the uneven nature of support, with self-employed workers typically having fewer formal safety nets than employees.
Royal London said the findings underline the importance of protection products that go beyond simple financial payouts.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Fi Wynn (main picture), head of protection proposition at Royal London, said: “What stands out in this survey is that support at the right moment can make a real difference to how quickly and confidently people return to work.
“Added value services, available as part of a protection policy, can be just as important as the financial support.
“They offer access to invaluable clinical, mental health and wellbeing support so individuals can navigate their recovery and return to work more rapidly.”
FINANCIAL RESILIENCE
And she added: “Financial resilience is about knowing that a temporary health setback doesn’t have to become a long-term financial burden.
“And today’s findings highlight the crucial importance of income protection in today’s working environment, providing certainty that, if the worst happens, people can focus on getting better rather than worrying about paying the bills.”
The protection industry has increasingly emphasised the role of added-value services, such as virtual GP access, physiotherapy and mental health support, as insurers seek to demonstrate tangible benefits for policyholders and employers alike.
Industry data from Swiss Re and the ABI has previously shown that early intervention services can reduce claim durations and improve return-to-work outcomes.
