Employment and pensions

Welcome to our latest Coffee Break in which we look at the latest legal and practical developments impacting employers

Spring Budget 2023: what was in it for employers?

As had been widely anticipated, the spring Budget 2023 set out the government's plans for "breaking down barriers that stop people working" following concerns laid out in the autumn statement over the rise in economically inactive individuals "seen particularly acutely within those aged over 50" following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Budget sets out a comprehensive employment packaged focused on four groups: the long-term sick and disabled, welfare recipients and the unemployed, older workers and parents. The Office for Budget Responsibility expects this package to result in 110,000 more individuals in the labour market by the end of the forecast period.

Measures announced

Measures the government has announced include:

• Introducing a "Universal Support" programme in England and Wales to match people with disabilities and long-term sickness with jobs and provide support and training to help them succeed. The government has published a white paper alongside the Budget which sets out its ambitions including separating benefit entitlement from an individual's ability to work.
• A "suite of measures" to address the leading causes of ill health related inactivity, including tailored employment support in mental health and musculoskeletal health services and expanding access to digital...

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