New Statistics Show Record Levels of Long-Term Sickness in the UK

Absence from Work

2.55 million people in the UK are not working due to long-term sickness. Since the pandemic, more than 400,000 additional people are not working due to ill health. There has also been an increase in mental health conditions, particularly in younger people. The ONS has also reported an increase in people suffering from musculoskeletal problems, which is said to be a potential effect of home-working.

Supporting Staff Back to Work

The increase in the number of people not working since the pandemic suggests that long-COVID continues to be a significant issue within the UK workforce. The research also shows an increase in the amount of people suffering with conditions including post-viral fatigue, which again is potentially linked to the pandemic.

If staff within your organisation are on long-term sick leave, you should maintain reasonable contact with them and keep under review the ways you can support them in their return to work. You are likely to need to seek medical advice in order to establish individual timescales for recovery and what reasonable adjustments might assist their return to work. When seeking medical advice you should be sure to include tailored questions in order to ensure you are getting the most out of the referral.

Health and Safety Obligations

It is interesting that the data suggests the rise in musculoskeletal issues might be related to homeworking. Employers should ensure they are aware of their legal duty to conduct a suitable risk assessment of work activities carried out by their workers, including homeworkers. This should include an assessment of the adequacy of the worker's homeworking set-up.

For more information regarding how to deal with long-term sickness please contact Rory Jutton in our Employment team on 0117 314 5286, or complete the form below.