The Netherlands offers a blueprint for addressing the UK's rising costs of health-related benefits, projected to exceed £100bn by 2030. With an 82.3% employment rate, their approach emphasizes early intervention: employers and employees must co-create return-to-work plans during sickness, and employers cover wages for up to two years, incentivizing retention. These policies drastically reduced Dutch disability claims and costs. In contrast, the UK's system reacts too late, allowing prolonged absences. Experts suggest adopting the Dutch model’s focus on localized support and employer accountability could significantly improve outcomes. However, challenges like gig work remain.