How we made the decision

We check our guidelines regularly to ensure they remain up to date. We based the decision on surveillance 2 years after the publication of workplace health: management practices (2015) NICE guideline NG13.

For details of the process and update decisions that are available, see ensuring that published guidelines are current and accurate in developing NICE guidelines: the manual.

New evidence from 2-year surveillance review on NG13

Two literature searches to identify observational and experimental studies and systematic reviews were undertaken:

  • A forward citation search (from October 2013 to April 2017) on all studies included in the effectiveness reviews 1 to 3 (policy and management practices) that informed NG13.

  • A forward citation search (from July 2014 to April 2017) on all studies included in the effectiveness reviews 4 to 6 (older workers) that informed NG13.

All relevant abstracts were assessed for their impact on the recommendations within NG13.

We reviewed studies highlighted by topic experts for any potential impact on the guideline scope and remit, these are summarised in the evidence summary (appendix A).

We checked for ongoing and newly published research from NIHR and Cochrane as well as new policy developments. One published study was included as evidence, and 1 piece of ongoing research was identified.

See appendix A: evidence summary for references and assessment of the abstracts for all new evidence considered.

Consideration of the evidence

We found 14 new studies and 1 piece of ongoing research. New evidence was identified for the following guideline recommendations but it has been concluded that it does not have sufficient impact to warrant updating:

  • Recommendation 1.4 'fairness and justice'.

  • Recommendation 1.5 'participation and trust'.

  • Recommendation 1.8 'leadership style of line managers'.

  • Recommendation 1.9 'training'.

  • Recommendation 1.10 'job design'.

Evidence also indicates that there are potential new areas for recommendations:

  • 'Approaches to support the health and wellbeing of older employees'. It has been concluded that the evidence is not sufficient to enable new recommendations to be made in this area.

See appendix A for details of the evidence reviewed.

We did not find any new evidence related to recommendation 1.1 'organisational commitment, recommendation 1.2 'physical work environment', recommendation 1.3 'mental wellbeing at work', recommendation 1.6 'senior leadership', recommendation 1.7 'role of line managers', recommendation 1.11 'monitoring and evaluation'.

Implementation

Nothing identified through implementation feedback indicates a need to update the guideline.

Equalities

No evidence has been found to indicate that the guideline does not comply with anti-discrimination and equalities legislation.

Implications for other NICE programmes

None identified.

Views of topic experts

We considered the views of topic experts, including those who helped to develop the guideline.

Overall decision

Workplace health: management practices (NG13) should not be updated at this time. While new evidence has been identified in a number of areas, this largely reinforces the existing recommendations. Emerging evidence has been identified in the area of 'approaches to support the health and wellbeing of older employees', but this is unlikely to lead to new recommendations at this stage.

Date of next surveillance

The timing of the next check to decide whether the guideline should be updated is to be confirmed.

NICE Centre for Guidelines Surveillance project team

Kay Nolan
Associate Director

Judith Thornton
Technical Adviser

Pete Shearn
Senior Technical Analyst

The NICE project team would like to thank the topic experts who participated in the surveillance process.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-2635-0


This page was last updated: