Nana Akua has been left furious and fumed at workers to "just get out of bed," after it has been revealed that people taking sick pay has hit a record high in Britain.
British employees are now missing an average of 9.4 working days annually due to illness, according to fresh data from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Speaking about these figures on GB News, Nana said: "This is the thing, isn’t it? You’re far more likely to ruminate if you’re on your own, just sitting there thinking about how terrible things are.
"But if you actually get up and do something go to work, go to the gym, keep active your mind shifts. It takes the focus off the worries and you’re not stuck in that cycle.
Nana Akua has been left furious and fumed at workers to 'get out of bed'
|GB NEWS
Co-host Tom Harwood agreed: "Now, nobody wants to be forced into work by someone just whacking them into it.
"But if the Government is giving people incentives to stay in bed, paying them not to work, that’s the worst thing possible.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"I’d be so bored I’d actually go mad if I just sat there. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"I honestly don’t understand why the Labour Government thinks that’s the way forward. I really don’t get it."
The statistics reveal that 4.1 per cent of total working hours are currently being lost to sickness-related absences.
This marks a substantial increase from pre-pandemic levels, when workers averaged 5.8 days off sick annually.
The figure has climbed steadily, reaching 7.8 days in 2023 before hitting the current record.
Paul Schreier, chief executive of Simplyhealth, attributed the surge to "broader societal trends, including an ageing workforce and a rise in long-term health conditions."
Mental health conditions are responsible for 41 per cent of extended sick leave lasting beyond four weeks, the CIPD research reveals.
Anxiety and depression account for 29 per cent of short-term absences, whilst musculoskeletal problems like back pain represent the second most common cause of lengthy work breaks.
Almost 600,000 hours have been lost in the Home Office due to sickness | GETTYThe Employment Rights Bill, set to become law within weeks, will grant employees immediate access to sick pay benefits.
Under current regulations, workers must wait until their fourth consecutive day of illness and earn above £123 weekly to qualify for sick pay.
Small business owners have voiced fierce opposition to the reforms, citing an inability to manage rising minimum wages, increased taxation and enhanced employee protections simultaneously.