Occupational Health Week 2026 to highlight the value of healthier workplaces

Employers across the UK are being encouraged to recognise the role occupational health can play in supporting their workforce as Occupational Health Week takes place from 21 to 27 September 2026.

The annual campaign aims to increase understanding of occupational health (OH) and demonstrate the value it can provide in helping people remain healthy, safe and supported throughout their working lives.

For the health and social care sector, the message is particularly relevant. Staff across hospitals, care homes, community services and home care can face physically and emotionally demanding working environments, including long shifts, manual handling, exposure to illness and infection, workplace stress and the psychological impact of caring for people experiencing illness, trauma or distress.

Occupational health services can support employees and employers across a range of areas, including workplace health assessments, sickness absence, returning to work following illness or injury, vaccinations, health surveillance and recommendations for workplace adjustments.

The week also provides an opportunity to challenge the perception that occupational health is primarily a service employees encounter when they are already unwell or absent from work.

Effective occupational health provision can have a preventative role, identifying workplace risks and helping organisations address health issues before they lead to prolonged absence or employees leaving the workforce altogether.

This is particularly important at a time when recruitment, retention and workforce wellbeing remain significant challenges across health and social care. Supporting an experienced employee to remain in work can benefit not only the individual, but their colleagues, the organisation and ultimately the people relying on their care.

Managers also have an important role to play. Early conversations about health, appropriate referrals and a willingness to consider reasonable adjustments can help staff feel supported rather than waiting until problems have reached crisis point.

Occupational Health Week runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, providing employers with an opportunity to consider how effectively they are protecting the health of the people who keep their organisations running.

For health and social care, where looking after others is the job, the week carries a particularly simple message: looking after the workforce matters too.

Find out more about Occupational Health Week

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