Sir Charlie Mayfield, former John Lewis chief and government adviser, has recommended that employees reporting sick leave should be required to telephone their employers directly rather than simply sending a text or email. He argues this change is necessary to establish immediate dialogue between employers and workers, addressing what he sees as a significant workplace health problem. The recommendation stems from his leadership of a government investigation into the 300,000 people who exit work annually due to health conditions, which he frames as a major economic opportunity rather than merely a welfare issue.

Mayfield's report, titled Keep Britain Working, found that most long-term work absences could be prevented through greater cooperation between the NHS, employers, local councils and support services. He suggests managers are often reluctant to contact absent workers due to fear of complaints or tribunal claims, and advocates for joint "return to work" plans and discussions about workplace treatments or alternative roles. The report recommends sharing more employment data across organisations to understand why disabled and ill workers participate in the workplace at different rates.