Recent Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal a significant decline in sickness absence over the last two decades.
- Despite this decline, emerging trends such as mental health issues are causing concern among experts.
- Adrian Lewis of Activ Absence highlights a rise in presenteeism and its implications for workforce health.
- Younger workers increasingly report mental health issues impacting their absence statistics.
- Older employees attribute a significant portion of their absence to musculoskeletal issues, spotlighting age-specific health challenges.
Newly released figures by the ONS show that sickness days have dramatically reduced over the past twenty years, reaching a record low. This decline from 7.2 days in 1993 to 4.1 days in 2017 suggests a promising trend at first glance.
However, Adrian Lewis, Director of Activ Absence, advises caution when interpreting these statistics. He underscores the presence of other concerning trends, notably the rise in mental health issues affecting the younger workforce aged 25 to 34. This demographic reports mental health as a significant factor in their sickness absences.
Lewis also draws attention to the increasing prevalence of presenteeism, as evidenced by research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which indicates that the number of companies reporting a rise in employees attending work while ill has more than tripled since 2010.
The health challenges vary with age groups, with older workers, particularly those aged 50 to 64, reporting musculoskeletal issues such as back and joint pain as a leading cause of absenteeism, accounting for 20.8% of cases.
Lewis advises that employers should not interpret the new ONS figures superficially. He emphasises the importance of understanding the broader context of these statistics, suggesting that factors such as high workloads, financial stress, and job security fears contribute to the phenomenon of employees working while unwell.
Implementing robust absence management systems is recommended as a strategy for employers to gain deeper insights into the causes and patterns of absenteeism. Such systems can facilitate the identification of root causes and help organisations address these challenges effectively.
Lewis sums up the situation by stressing that addressing the underlying issues driving both presenteeism and absenteeism is key to fostering a genuinely healthy workforce.
The figures from the ONS, while indicating declining absenteeism, should prompt employers to examine the underlying health issues within their workforce.
