The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has introduced a new initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better manage long-term sickness among employees. Funded by the DWP under the new Labour government, this programme will provide occupational health training to 5,000 line managers across the SME sector, with the goal of reducing the risk of employees dropping out of work.
Despite the government’s effort, the programme has drawn scepticism from industry leaders and business experts who argue that training 5,000 managers is a mere drop in the ocean when compared to the 2.8 million long-term sickness claimants nationally.
Rohit Parmar-Mistry, founder of Pattrn Data in Burton-on-Trent, commented: “Training 5,000 managers to handle 2.8 million long-term sick cases is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. It’s simply not enough.” He also warned that expecting already stretched SME managers to take on this role is unrealistic, likening the task to serving as “amateur therapists amidst operational chaos.” Parmar-Mistry emphasized that while managers might be trained to recognize signs of fatigue, they cannot treat chronic illnesses or fix systemic issues like healthcare waiting lists.
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Scott Gallacher, director at Rowley Turton in Leicester, highlighted that only a small fraction of UK SMEs will see this training, noting “79% of SMEs provide no such support, and with 5.7 million SMEs nationwide, 5,000 trained managers is insufficient.” He further criticized the funding levels, pointing out that the £800,000 budget equates to about 29 pence per absentee, suggesting the programme may be more political posturing than effective policy.
Kate Underwood, who runs Kate Underwood HR and Training in Southampton, shared that many SME managers lose employees not due to lack of care, but because managers either hesitate, avoid dealing with the issues, or respond too late. However, she noted that training alone won’t address the core challenges: the cost of absence, time required to manage absences, and timely access to occupational health advice remain critical problems for small teams.
Riz Malik, director of R3 Wealth in Southend-on-Sea, expressed scepticism about the initiative’s priorities, stating, “This probably isn’t high on the list of concerns SMEs want the government to address in 2026, reflecting a disconnect between government initiatives and SME realities.”
Sarah Gatford of Sarah Gatford Ltd in Derby echoed the sentiment that reaching only 5,000 managers across the vast SME sector “feels like a drop in the ocean.”
While the government’s initiative to train managers represents a step to support long-term sick employees, experts warn that deeper systemic support and wider engagement across SMEs are needed to truly tackle the challenges posed by long-term sickness in the workforce.