UK workplace absences reach highest in more than decade: Study

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - UK workers are taking more sick days than at any point in the last decade, a recent study by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) said Tuesday.

Employees took an average of 7.8 sick days in the past year, compared to 5.8 days before the coronavirus pandemic began.

The rise in sick days is attributed to various factors, with stress, the ongoing pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis taking center stage as leading causes.

The CIPD described it as a "worrying" trend and highlighted the profound effect those conditions are having on the well-being of individuals across the country.

One of the most alarming findings is the prevalence of stress as a significant factor contributing to short and long-term absences.

A staggering 76% of respondents reported stress-related absence in the past year, shedding light on mental health challenges faced by employees.

The top causes of short-term absence were minor illnesses at 94%, musculoskeletal injuries with 45%, and mental ill health was at 39%.

For long-term absence, mental ill health came in at 63%, acute medical conditions such as stroke or cancer at 51% and musculoskeletal injuries at 51% were the leading causes.

The coronavirus, despite being in a post-pandemic phase, still accounted for a significant portion of short-term absences, with 37% of organizations reporting it as a continuing concern.

The study, which analyzed absence rates in more than 900 organizations representing 6.5 million employees, paints a concerning picture of the nation's workforce.