The UK economy is continuing to be detrimentally impacted by worker sick days, expert warn. The UK's sickness absence rate fell to 4.4 days per worker in 2024.
An estimated 148.9 million working days were lost due to illness or injury, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The percentage of working hours lost decreased by 0.3 percentage points to two per cent over the year, marking a decline in absence rates.
However, campaigners and experts have warned that the figures may conceal a troubling reality where workers feel compelled to attend work when unwell.
Experts are warning sickness absences are hurting the economy
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Analysts cite this being due to inadequate sick pay provisions, which are potentially damaging both individual health and economic productivity.
Minor illnesses emerged as the leading cause of workplace absence last year , representing nearly one-third of all cases. Musculoskeletal problems followed as the second most common reason at 15.5 per cent.
The ONS data revealed distinct patterns among different worker groups experiencing higher absence rates. Women, older employees, and those managing long-term health conditions recorded above-average sick days.
Part-time workers and public sector employees also featured prominently among groups with elevated absence levels.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to grow the economy
Parliament TVThese demographic variations highlight the uneven distribution of health-related work disruptions across the UK workforce, with certain segments bearing a disproportionate burden of illness-related absences.
Amanda Walters, the director of the Safe Sick Pay campaign, challenged the positive interpretation of declining absence rates.
"The fall in sickness absence may seem a positive development but the figures mask the fact that far too many UK workers regularly go to work when they are too ill," she said.
She highlighted that British workers are "amongst the least likely to take sick days in Europe" because the statutory sick pay system forces millions to work whilst ill to meet financial obligations. "This costs the economy billions in lost productivity," Walters added.
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The UK's statutory sick pay duration of 28 weeks is also lower than most other European countriesGETTYCatherine Foot, director of Phoenix Insights at Phoenix Group, emphasised the broader economic implications of persistent high absence rates.
"This lost productivity damages our economy and businesses, as well as the millions of individuals suffering with long-term health conditions and disability, many of whom are aged over 50," she stated.
She warned that workers over 50 who leave employment due to illness possess "only five per cent of the wealth of those who have retired early," creating risks of a "looming pre-retirement poverty crisis".
Foot called for enhanced flexible working arrangements and occupational health support to help employees manage health conditions whilst remaining in work.
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