This report was adopted by the Social and Economic Council on 17 April 2009. The report highlights the importance of promoting employee health – in the interests of individuals as well as the wider economy and society. Organisations have real opportunities to share responsibilities with their employees to create a healthy workplace.
Above all, good health benefits the employee. The advantages to organisations include higher productivity, better performance and reduced absenteeism. Healthier employees continue working for longer, allowing society to cope more effectively with an ageing population and long-term labour shortages.

The Social and Economic Council has observed that companies are already developing a range of employee healthcare policies, for example in areas such as health & safety, absenteeism management, and employee lifestyle choices. The report notes that additional legislation is unnecessary at this point but that existing policies need to be implemented and good practice shared.