Overview
- Workers averaged 9.4 sick days over the past year, the highest in more than 15 years, with 4.1% of total working hours lost compared with about 5.9 days pre-pandemic.
- Mental health is now the leading cause of long-term absence, accounting for 41% of cases, with musculoskeletal problems next and stress widely cited across workplaces.
- Employers report responses including occupational sick pay for 66% of staff and occupational health schemes at 69%, while more than a third say home or hybrid working reduced absences versus 16% reporting an increase.
- Analysts link rising absence to weaker productivity, with EY estimating tens of billions of pounds in lost output and separate analysis putting work-related illness at about £400 million per week.
- Public debate has sharpened, with business leaders such as Lord Stuart Rose urging a tougher work culture, and GB News reporting the Employment Rights Bill would grant immediate statutory sick pay access, replacing the current fourth-day wait and earnings threshold.