UK employees are taking almost two working weeks off sick each year on average, according to fresh data from the CIPD and Simplyhealth.
Researchers warned that employers must take more proactive steps to manage workforce health and wellbeing.
The survey of more than 1,100 employers found staff were absent for 9.4 days on average in the past 12 months, up from 7.8 days in 2023 and significantly higher than the 5.8 days recorded before the pandemic. The institute said the sharp rise reflects a growing prevalence of long-term health conditions, echoing government data showing 8.7 million people now live with a work-limiting condition.
Mental health and long term absence
Employers reported that the leading causes of long-term absence were mental ill health (41 percent), musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain (31 percent) and other chronic conditions including cancer (30 percent). For short-term absence, minor illnesses such as colds and flu dominated (78 percent), followed by mental ill health (29 percent) and stress and childcare responsibilities (both 26 percent).
Rachel Suff, senior wellbeing adviser at the CIPD, said longer absences make it harder for people to return to work and increase pressure on colleagues.
“It’s really important for individuals, organisations and society that employers take a proactive approach to support people managing health conditions while working. The longer someone is off, the more they might struggle to return.”
She urged employers to act, saying: “As people are working and living longer, employers need to create workplaces that are supportive and help staff manage their health. Changes, like flexible hours and adjustments to workload, can often make a big difference to help prevent ill health from worsening and absence.
“Employers should also focus support on the areas where it’s needed most by addressing the main health risks to people. Since mental ill health is a leading cause of absence, taking targeted action to help employees deal with both work-related stress and personal challenges is crucial.”
A shift towards prevention
While almost three-quarters of organisations (74 percent) now say employee wellbeing is on the senior leadership agenda, up from 61 percent in 2020, many measures remain reactive. Access to counselling (43 percent), phased returns to work (43 percent) and employee assistance programmes (41 percent) are the most common approaches. Only 29 percent of employer respondents said their organisation trains managers to spot and address mental health issues, despite the research showing training significantly improves confidence in handling sensitive conversations.
Simplyhealth CEO Paul Schreier said employers have a “crucial role” in tackling health problems before they escalate.
“By offering preventative care through easy-to-access health benefits that target the key drivers of absence – mental ill health, musculoskeletal issues and minor illnesses – employees are able to seek support early, before symptoms escalate,” he said.
Pressure on HR
The CIPD findings also highlights risks to HR professionals themselves. It said the role of HR is “one of the most emotionally demanding” in organisations. With responsibilities ranging from redundancies to bereavements, and additional pressures linked to new legislation such as the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, HR staff need support to manage their own wellbeing.
David D’Souza, director of profession at the CIPD, said: “HR professionals should be supported to deliver what is required of them – through jobs that are well designed, properly resourced and sustainable.
“For those working in HR, practical steps can make a real difference. These include setting clear boundaries around workload, creating spaces to reflect, and connecting with peers for support and learning. And where individuals need further support, the CIPD’s resources such as the 24-hour counselling helpline are available.”
‘Sick is a dirty word’
Additional data from Reward Gateway Edenred further underlines the link between stress and disengagement. The provider’s research found 36 percent of employees frequently feel stressed at work, with nearly half (48 percent) saying it has harmed their wellbeing. Four in ten said stress meant they no longer went “above and beyond,” while 30 percent reported a loss of trust in their employer.
Charlotte Neal, employee experience specialist at Reward Gateway Edenred, said employers need to rethink how they handle sickness.
“‘Sick’ is still a dirty word in the world of work. People would rather get signed off to avoid discrimination, awkward conversations and being labelled ‘incapable’,” she said. “It’s easier to hide behind a sick note than it is to ask for support. It’s an unfortunate reality and we see this in the volume of people who are absent from work, and then hesitant to rejoin the workforce, especially after prolonged bouts of ill-health.
“Business leaders are in the incredible position to change employees’ lives for the better by implementing initiatives and benefits that plug the ever-increasing gap in access to healthcare services.”
