What needs to change to get Britain working?
Good morning Faithfuls
Brace yourself. It’s brutal news this week.
Sir Charlie Mayfield’s report on why the UK’s productivity is tanking dropped. Over 1 in 5 working-age adults are now out of work and not even looking. That’s 800,000 more people out of work due to health problems since 2019: the population of Leeds.
Among 16–34-year-olds economic inactivity of those with a mental health condition has surged by 190,000 (76%) since 2019. That’s the population of Luton (a word an American friend charmingly rhymes with button).
The cost?
For employers: £120 lost per sick day
For the state: 70% of all income tax revenue now goes to working-age benefits.
For the individuals: over £1 million if they stop working at 22.
Mayfield’s solution: more open conversations. Right now, both employers and employees are afraid to talk about health at work. He argues we need to share the load between employers, individuals, and the health system. Including a rethink of the GP fit note: not just what people can’t do, but what they can.
Which large bear didn’t he poke? Education.
I was in a room discussing the report where I was the only one sending my kids to a comp. which strikes me as huge problem.
This is highly related to how we reward behaviour, celebrate effort, treat teachers and give feedback. At schools other than Radley College (where Mayfield was educated which costs over £60k a year today). Especially if we’re serious about the Luton-sized mental health crisis.
Then there was Nigel Farage.
Yes, that bloody Nigel. Who made the most terrifyingly coherent-sounding economic speech this week. You should probably listen to it if you can bear it (sorry).
I worry he’s testing the ground for a leadership run but not of Reform… of the Conservatives.
Even more troublingly, I never expected be able to tolerate a Farage speech, much less nod at points (why do we ignore small business owners?).
Tony Blair Institute: if you can’t bear to watch Farage (fair) have a look at the TBI business package proposals and see what you think. They are suggesting a raft of sensible looking measures focused on growth. Simplifying the tax system, aligning immigration with economic strategy (including making tech visas easier), making brownfield development easier, using more tech to deliver government services.
On another front:
I love attending women’s network events (don’t stop inviting me).
But a FTSE 100 board member asked me something at one that stuck:
“Why do women’s events always spend a lot of time on sustainability, inclusion, culture, while mixed ones focus on performance and competition?”
Are women expected to carry the ‘kinder’ topics?
I don’t have the answer, but I’d love your thoughts. This is something I want to dig into.
And finally, if you haven’t seen the Mark Zuckerberg sparring clip yet, drop everything now and watch.
Some excellent comments: my fave may be “This is how I spar with my 6-year-old.”
📹 On the vlog this week: the rise (and antidote) to AI anxiety. AIXiety? No, no, too much, I know.
Thoughts welcome.
Enjoy
Christine
