16 OCT 2023

Employee absence rates soar to record 10-year high

A recent CIPD study has brought to light some concerning statistics: UK workers are taking more sick days than they have in the past decade!

The Numbers:

In the past year, the average UK staff took about 7.8 sick days, which is a sharp rise from the 5.8 days pre-pandemic, according to research from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD). This study involved over 900 organisations, representing a whopping 6.5 million employees.

 

Why Is This Happening?

There's a mix of reasons. For short-term absences, minor illnesses are the prime culprits, followed by musculoskeletal injuries and mental health concerns. On the longer side of absences, people mainly cited issues like mental health, musculoskeletal injuries, or severe conditions such as cancer and stroke. Surprisingly, Covid-19 still plays a significant role in causing sick days. 

One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous shed light on the heightened stress levels in the education sector. "The environment is toxic now," she said, pointing out that her school's management seemed to dismiss the pressure teachers were under. Working from home, changes in work culture post-pandemic, and the rising cost of living are also adding to the stress cocktail, making some employees feel disconnected and overwhelmed.

 

Public vs. Private Sector:

Rachel Suff from CIPD pointed out an interesting disparity. Public sector sick days are almost double that of the private sector! With many large organisation and front-line roles like in the NHS, the public sector is feeling the heat.

 

Employers Need to Step Up:

Though many organisations are offering sick pay and nearly half have some strategies for staff wellbeing, the rates of absences are still climbing. Rachel believes it's crucial to have an open and supportive work culture. It's not just about short-term fixes like lunchtime yoga sessions; the root causes need to be addressed.

 Dr. Audrey Tang, a psychologist, echoed this, stating there's a "mismatch of understanding" from those at the top about the real needs of workers.

 

Wrapping Up:

The rise in sick days is indeed a concern, pointing to deeper systemic issues in work cultures and the challenges employees face. It's a call to employers and policymakers to pay attention, offer genuine support, and cultivate environments where staff feel valued and heard.