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Heatwave triggers surge in ‘sickness absence’ searches as burnout looms

by Benefits Expert
10/07/2025
Heatwave, sickness, absence, rest, time off, leave
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As the UK basks in another scorching heatwave, Google searches for “sickness absence” have spiked 113 percent in the past 24 hours. 

Provider YuLife, which first spotted the surge, said that rather than indicating a sun-seeking tranche of opportunistic employees, the trend could be a sign of deeper issues. For example, employees may be grappling with burnout, inflexible leave policies, and a work culture that struggles to support rest and recovery.

The provider’s warning comes as recent ONS figures revealed that 148.9 million working days were lost to sickness or injury in 2024. This equates to 4.4 days lost per worker. While the overall sickness absence rate has slightly dipped, mental health-related absences, especially among younger and hybrid workers, continue to climb.

YuLife said the heatwave-driven search trend is likely to be a symptom of a much larger issue, a workforce that feels unable to take guilt-free time off. With cost-of-living pressures, high workloads and outdated leave structures, some employees may be turning to “sick days” as the only viable route to rest.

“This isn’t just about sunbathing. It’s about control, burnout and flexibility,” said Katie Howarth, head of people at YuLife. “When people feel they can’t take legitimate time off, whether to rest, reset, or even just enjoy the weather, they’ll find other ways. The rising pressure of modern work culture means employees are increasingly using sick days as a proxy for rest, rather than actual illness.”

YuLife has urged employers to take a more open and preventative approach to summer wellbeing. That includes flexible weather working options, such as adjusted hours, outdoor working setups, or even designated ‘sun leave’ days during extreme heat.

The provider also highlighted the value of encouraging honest conversations about stress, proactively offering mental health days during quieter months, and using gamified wellbeing tools to track patterns, for example, dips in engagement or sudden spikes in sick leave.

Ultimately, the provider said that the takeaway from the broader trend for high sickness absence is that rest and recovery aren’t luxuries, they’re vital parts of a productive, sustainable work culture.

 

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The podcast from Benefits Expert, the title for HR, reward and benefits professionals.

Seasoned professionals examine the challenges and innovations in today’s employee benefits, reward and HR sector. Every episode, they will unbox a key issue and unpack what it really means for employers and how they can tackle it.

The regulars are Claire Churchard, editor of Benefits Expert; Carole Goldsmith, HR director at the Royal Horticultural Society, and Steve Herbert, consultant and rewards & benefits veteran.

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The 10,000 step rule has been wellbeing gospel for decades. But what if the science says otherwise?

Fresh data is challenging old assumptions and opening up new opportunities for HR to support employee health in smarter, simpler ways.

In this episode, part of a trio of 10 minute podcasts, hosts Claire Churchard and Steve Herbert ask: why has this myth stuck for so long, and how can employers use the new evidence to boost health, engagement and productivity?

Benefits Unboxed – Forget 10,000: the step count that really boosts employee wellbeing
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