What decade-high sick leave levels mean for employer health strategies
Watch the webinar recording, Building a connected approach to workforce health and productivity supported by strategic partners Simplyhealth
For more insights, view REBA's extensive library of webinar recordings.
Employers have made major strides in expanding access to healthcare support for their people. Digital GP services, mental health platforms and broader wellbeing benefits are now common across many organisations.
But despite this progress, workforce absence and productivity pressures continue to rise. CIPD data finds UK employees were off sick for 9.4 days on average in 2025- a steep increase from 7.8 days in 2023 and 5.8 days pre‑pandemic.
Even with broader access to workforce health benefits, many employees still aren’t getting the right care at the right time. This raises a tougher question for reward and benefits leaders: is access alone enough to shift workforce health outcomes?
Today’s workforce is managing health challenges that span life stages and responsibilities- from caring for children or ageing relatives to navigating menopause, mental health pressures or family health concerns.
These realities mean that health support needs to function as a connected journey, not a collection of standalone benefits
Key discussion points
Drawing on emerging insights and employer experience, this discussion will explore how organisations can move beyond traditional benefits models to build health strategies that better support employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity.
Thank you to our strategic partner Simplyhealth for supporting this REBA webinar




Director, Total Rewards, CloudPay
Paul is Director, Total Rewards at CloudPay and has a strong track record of leading strategic reward initiatives across complex organisations over his 30 year experience working with HR & Reward. Having worked in the past in many sectors (including Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Legal, and Technology), Paul brings a wealth of knowledge around all maters compensation, benefits, job architecture, and incentive design – helping businesses attract, retain, and motivate top talent.
Paul is known for his collaborative approach, working closely with executive teams and HR leadership to translate business strategy into effective total reward frameworks. His approach focuses on balancing commercial outcomes with fairness, transparency, and a positive employee experience.

Senior Wellbeing and People Experience Manager, Clifford Chance
Catherine Ritchie is Senior Global Wellbeing Manager at global law firm Clifford Chance and Founding Coach and Mentor at VISION, a bespoke coaching consultancy for leaders, entrepreneurs and people with big ideas. For almost a decade, Catherine has designed and delivered people experience strategies for market-leading businesses that prioritise health, equity and performance, receiving global recognition across sectors for her work. She has dedicated her career to driving positive transformation for people and workplaces.

Head of Clinical Product & Operations, Simplyhealth
Dr. Macarena Staudenmaier is Head of Clinical Product & Operations at Simplyhealth, where she leads clinical governance and innovation across the company's digital health ecosystem. Originally from Argentina and trained as a physician with an MSc in Global Health, she builds clinical infrastructure that balances safety, innovation, and practical delivery at scale. She is passionate about women's health and making healthcare more accessible through technology.Please accept {{cookieConsents}} cookies to view this content