Wellness in work - supporting people in work and assisting people to return to the workforce: An economic evidence review

Rapid review methodology was used to identify updated economic evidence on programmes or interventions designed to enable employees to remain in and return to the workforce. In Wales, there are currently 1.48 million people in employment and 58,300 people who are unemployed. This equates to an unemployment rate of 3.8% in Wales. The evidence in this report builds on a previous Wellness in Work report ([Edwards et al., 2019][1]). This review has a broad focus to understand the economic impact of well-being within the workplace. The main section of the report is on the economic benefits of keeping the workforce well. Seventy-six papers were included from databases searched for literature published between 2017 and 2023. Economics studies were found relating to common mental health conditions; severe mental health conditions; influenza vaccination; illicit drug use; smoking and vaping; healthy eating and physical activity. A range of economic evidence of low, medium, and high quality relating to interventions targeting well-being in the workforce was identified. This included high quality evidence that interventions in the workforce for employees at risk of common mental health disorders can be cost saving for businesses and the health and social care sector. There is also high quality evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions focusing on healthy eating and physical activity in the workplace. Some evidence gaps were also identified. Policy and practice implications: There is a need to consider the evidence presented in this rapid review on cost-effective interventions to improve the wellness of the workforce in Wales. Updated policies and procedures to improve equal employment opportunities, regardless of age, gender, or disability status are needed. Economic considerations: Amongst the G7 nations, the United Kingdom (UK) is performing relatively poorly in relation to returning to pre-pandemic employment rates. This is in part caused by the long elective (planned) surgery waiting lists present in the National Health Service (NHS) right across the UK, highlighting the circular relationship between health and the economy. Funding statement: The Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, the Bangor Institute for Medical and Health Research, and the Swansea Centre for Health Economics were funded for this work by the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, itself funded by Health and Care Research Wales on behalf of Welsh Government. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, the Bangor Institute for Medical and Health Research, and the Swansea Centre for Health Economics were funded for this work by the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, itself funded by Health and Care Research Wales on behalf of Welsh Government. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors [1]: #ref-56