Work is generally good for the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, says the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
In a statement, endorsed today by the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA), the faculty said it wanted to promote the health benefits of work.
NZMA chair Peter Foley said there was compelling international and Australasian evidence that supported the correlation between work and good health, while long-term absences and unemployment had an adverse impact on health and wellbeing.
"It's important that we look to reduce the negative impact of accidents and illness in the long-term for individuals and help them, wherever possible, to assist their transition into the workforce," he said.
Dr Foley said that despite the evidence available, the message about work benefitting health and wellbeing had not yet achieved widespread acceptance in Australia or New Zealand.
"We do need a shift in thinking and practice to improve the health outcomes of those who are not currently working because of disability, illness or other disadvantage."
The statement said that realising the health benefits for all required a paradigm shift in thinking and practice.
"It necessitates co-operation between many stakeholders, including government, employers, unions, insurance companies, legal practitioners, advocacy groups, and the medical, nursing and allied health professions," it said.
Dr Foley said that while the NZMA supported the consensus statement, it was disappointed that the statement did not adequately acknowledge that some types of non-paid work also had an overall beneficial effect on people.
"The NZMA recognises that there are many situations in which non-paid employment has a beneficial effect on individuals, families and societies. This includes, but is not limited to, at-home parenting and care of unwell or disabled family members," he said.
The position statement has been endorsed by many organisations including the NZMA, the Ministry of Health, ACC and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.