A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes

Austen El-Osta; Sami Altalib; Aos Alaa; Mahmoud Al-Ammouri; Manisha Karki; Eva Riboli-Sasco; Azeem Majeed; Laura Kudrna

doi:10.1186/s12889-025-23176-3

A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes

BMC Public Health. 2025 Jun 7;25(1):2138. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23176-3.

Authors

Austen El-Osta¹, Sami Altalib², Aos Alaa², Mahmoud Al-Ammouri², Manisha Karki², Eva Riboli-Sasco², Azeem Majeed³, Laura Kudrna⁴

Affiliations

¹ Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK. a.el-osta@imperial.ac.uk.
² Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
³ Department of Primary Care & Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
⁴ Institute of Applied Health Research in Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2 TT, UK.

Abstract

Background: Workplace settings are linked to staff health and wellbeing, affecting sickness absence, presenteeism and productivity. With the growing prevalence of health issues among employees in the UK, including stress and long-term conditions, effective workplace health and wellbeing support by local government can play a crucial role in keeping people economically active and well.

Objective: Identify and characterise workplace health and wellbeing programmes offered by local authorities within the United Kingdom.

Methods: A scoping review involved a comprehensive search of Local Authority Districts (LADs) and county councils' websites followed by direct communications between 1 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Initiatives were included if they were designed to enhance workplace health and wellbeing, actively ongoing and offered at no cost to workplaces. Data were extracted on the initiative name, provider, deprivation level, health focus, workplace eligibility and accreditation processes.

Results: The review identified 61 active local government workplace health programmes across the UK in March 2024, reflecting a 21% provision among local authorities. These initiatives were homogenous in focus, scope of coverage and implementation methods, with all focusing on general health. Geographical mapping highlighted regional disparities in the provision of workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that are free at the point of access (WHISPAs). England had a higher number (Central, Southern, and Southeastern regions specifically) while the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland had a lower number or no WHISPAs.

Conclusion: There is a need for more coordinated efforts to increase the visibility and accessibility of local government workplace health initiatives that are free at the point of access. National workplace health accreditation could further encourage employers to adopt health and wellbeing programmes.

Keywords: Employee health; Public health; Sickness absence; UK; Wellbeing initiatives; Workplace health.

Publication types

Scoping Review

MeSH terms

Health Promotion*
Humans
Local Government*
Occupational Health Services* / organization & administration
Occupational Health*
United Kingdom
Workplace*