The Work Foundation at Lancaster University responded to the Sickness absence in the UK labour market figures for 2023 and 2024released by the Office for National Statistics. Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University commented:

“Today’s data suggests sickness absence rates may be falling back to pre-pandemic levels, but policymakers shouldn’t be complacent.

“On average 4.4 working days were lost per worker because of sickness or injury in 2024, with women, older workers and those with long-term health conditions among those more likely to need time away from work due to ill health.

“Enabling people to take time off when they are sick to get better and return to work in good health is critical for a robust and successful labour market. Workers feeling unable to take time to recover and recuperate can lead to health issues becoming more serious over time, increasing the risk that they might join the near record number of people who are already out of the labour market due to ill health.

“The UK’s Statutory Sick Pay of £118.75 a week is lower than the majority of OECD countries – and our research shows that 47% of UK businesses do not pay above the statutory minimum. This can mean those who rely on Statutory Sick Pay can face a choice between making ends meet or looking after their health. This can be particularly challenging for those in more insecure roles, and those with fluctuating health conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis or long-term mental health issues.

“It is welcome that Government is seeking to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay in the UK as part of its Employment Rights Bill. While reforms to eliminate the waiting time before people can access sick pay and removing the lower earnings threshold are positive, a failure to raise the weekly level will mean too many workers continue to face this invidious choice when they fall ill in the future.”