The UK government’s Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, has come under fire for failing to address the ongoing impact of Long Covid and the need for workplace infection control. Long Covid Advocacy, an organization advocating for those affected by the condition, has raised urgent concerns regarding the newly published Keep Britain Working: Final Report.
The report, released in November 2025 and chaired by Sir Charlie Mayfield, focuses on workforce health and disability but fails to mention Long Covid or the pandemic as drivers of rising ill-health related work absence. This omission has sparked criticism from experts who warn that ignoring Long Covid, a condition affecting hundreds of thousands of working-age people, could have serious consequences.
According to the report, there has been an increase of 800,000 people out of work due to ill health compared to 2019. However, it fails to provide any context for this rise, leading to concerns about misdiagnosis of the causes of workforce inactivity.
Furthermore, the report does not address the need for workplace infection control and clean air measures, which are crucial for preventing relapses and protecting all employees. This oversight has been heavily criticized by Long Covid Advocacy, with a spokesperson stating, “Failing to recognize Long Covid and the ongoing risk of reinfection, while ignoring basic workplace protections, is a recipe for disaster.”
There is evidence to support the need for Long Covid to be recognized and addressed in workforce planning. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that people of working age who report Long Covid are significantly more likely to be economically inactive. Meanwhile, a study published in The Lancet in 2024 states that Long Covid can affect multiple organ systems and lead to severe and protracted impairment of function. The Institute for Fiscal Studies also highlights that Long Covid is reshaping the labor market and contributing to long-term sickness absence.
In light of this evidence, Long Covid Advocacy has put forward several recommendations for the government to address the issue. These include explicitly recognizing Long Covid in national workforce strategy and planning, introducing safe and flexible return-to-work pathways for those with fluctuating capacity, implementing infection control measures and improved ventilation standards in workplaces, and collecting and publishing data on post-infection workforce impacts to inform evidence-based interventions.
Claire Every, a representative from Long Covid Advocacy, emphasizes the importance of taking action to address Long Covid and its impact on the workforce. “We cannot ‘keep Britain working’ by ignoring the pandemic’s ongoing impact. Workers need protection, support, and policies based on evidence,” she says.
It is essential for the government to take these concerns seriously and address the issue of Long Covid in its workforce planning to ensure the protection and support of all workers.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.