Bridging the gap: manager support for workers with chronic pain

Abstract Chronic or persistent pain - such as back pain, headache and arthritis - affects a significant portion of the UK workforce and can limit their ability to work effectively. Line managers are often the first point of employee contact for support and act as a gatekeeper for support services such as occupational health. This perspective highlights the urgent need for tools to empower line managers to consistently support employees with chronic pain and suggests a digital solution based on the Pain-at-Work Toolkit.