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Pain, employment, and policy

As we have seen, the invisibility of pain can make it very difficult for those living with it to get recognition, support, and treatment. This is not just a challenge in workplace or clinical settings, however. Chronic and work-limiting pain in the working age population can also find itself in a policy blind spot, falling between often competing policy ‘silos’ for attention, resources and—perhaps most crucially—joined up and coordinated action. In this chapter we look at the policy landscape within which those living and working with pain are often having to vie for these resources. We will look at some of the policy ‘levers’ and incentives which might be used to improve both clinical and work outcomes for those living with pain, and we will look at some international examples of initiatives which offer some hope that practical solutions can be found.