Workplace sickness in the UK costs businesses more than £100 billion each year.

Analysis, conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) revealed that:

• The cost of staff sickness in 2023 was £103 billion, up from £73 billion in 2018
• Reduced productivity due to employees working while ill cost businesses £25 billion
•  Employees lose an average of 44 days of productivity a year due to working through sickness – up from 35 days in 2018 [1].

The research also highlighted a “clear link between employers having a positive culture of wellbeing in their organisation with productivity and sustainable organisational performance”.
 
UK workers least likely to take sick days
Workers in the UK are among the least likely to take sick days, especially compared with other OECD and European countries. They are also more likely to turn up at work while sick.

In 2019, a survey of 2,000 found that 79% of UK adults went to work despite being physically or mentally unwell [2].
 
67% of respondents said they felt guilty about taking time off work when they have health-related issues, but that wasn’t the only reason to turn up for work.

• 40% worried about falling behind on their workload
• 24% felt pressure from their boss
• 22% wanted to be seen in the office.
• 22% also said they went to work when unwell because they don’t get sick pay.

Primary presenteeism problems 
It spreads illness 
Contagious infections such as coronavirus, norovirus, and flu can quickly pass between colleagues. If your employees come into the workplace when they’re unwell, they’ll almost certainly pass their germs on to one or more of their colleagues.

Productivity takes a hit
Working too many hours can reduce an employee’s productivity, as they continue to work when they need to take a break and recuperate. When unwell, people won’t be functioning at their best – they may find it hard to concentrate, be impatient with their colleagues, and make mistakes or be more accident prone.

It can be expensive
Evidence suggests that presenteeism costs UK business more than absenteeism. In fact, US research found that when employees suffering with depression or pain continued working, it cost employers more through lost hours of productivity than absence would have done [3].

4 practical ways to help reduce presenteeism in your business
If presenteeism is a problem in your business, a few proactive changes could help you save money and increase engagement and productivity.

1. Revisit your absence policies
When was the last time you reviewed your absence management policies? If it’s been a while and you know you have a presenteeism problem, it may be time to rethink. For example, punitive sick leave policies may discourage employees from taking leave when they need to, leading to presenteeism. 

2. Embrace flexibility
Flexible working hours can help employees adjust their work schedules or environment. Whether someone needs time to speak to their therapist, see a doctor, or simply fit in school pick-up or drop-off, a degree of flexibility may help prevent unnecessary stress or pressure from mounting.

3. Educate employees
Educate your employees about presenteeism and the potential negative effects. For example, you could run workshops to present and discuss the problem and talk through the leave policies, so everyone knows exactly how to take a sick day or a mental health day.

4. Review your company’s benefits programme
Poor financial wellbeing, illness, and mental health problems can all lead to loss of productivity.

If you don’t already offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) as part of your benefits package, now may be a good time to correct that. 

An EAP can help support employees’ mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, through a range of flexible services, including: 

• Counselling and therapy sessions
• Work-life balance support
• Financial and legal advice.

Plans can also provide cover for partners and immediate family members.

Get in touch
We provide specialist advice and governance on a full suite of employee benefits. If you’d like to discuss your benefits package, please email info.wp@titanwh.com or call us on 0800 048 0150.

Please note
The information contained in this article is based on the opinion of Titan Wealth Planning and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation for any investment or retirement strategy.