A huge rise in the number of employees calling in sick is costing UK firms an extra £30billion a year, according to a new report.
An increase in sick days has almost doubled since 2018 with workers today ringing in ill on an average of 6.7 days a year.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the annual cost of staff absence has increased by £5billion.
Experts say another huge cost is generated from employees coming into work despite being unwell – meaning they don’t work their best.
Due to sickness, a typical employee loses the equivalent of 44 days of productivity.
This has risen from 35 days since 2018, with inefficiency affecting profits by £25billion a year.
British employees are among the least likely to take sick days in comparison to other developed economies, according to the report.
It also added that a poor work culture or limited access to sick pay causes people to continue working when ill.
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In addition, working when unwell is more common among those from ethnic minority backgrounds, in lower-quality jobs and without formal qualifications.
The report describes the UK as “the (literal) sick man of Europe” as public health is affected by poor-quality jobs, overconsumption of unhealthy food, underinvestment and smoking and gambling.
Dr Jamie O’Halloran, a senior research fellow at the IPPR said: “Too often, workers are pressured to work through sickness, harming their wellbeing and reducing productivity.
“This can be because of a bad workplace culture, poor management, financial insecurity or just weak understanding of long-term conditions among employers.”
Experts say another huge cost is generated from employees coming into work despite being unwell – meaning they don’t work their best
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A total of 2.8 million Britons are unable to work due to long-term sickness.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, previously announced a crackdown on “sicknote Britain”.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “No one should be forced to choose between their health and financial hardship, which is why we plan to strengthen statutory sick pay so it provides a safety net for those who need it most.”
