Presenteeism

    Istock 1097786372 Credit Deepak Sethi 500 Wide

    Record numbers of UK employees off sick, stats show

    Bad backs, respiratory conditions and mental health were among the top reasons for workers taking off a record number of days off due to sickness last year, according to official figures.

    By Belinda Liversedge on 10 May 2023

    Luula (002) (1)

    'We wanted to create a positive culture surrounding mental health'

    Charlie HR, a firm which offers support packages for UK SMEs, introduced mental health or 'personal days' after a mental health audit revealed that half their team were using sick days to take time off for mental health reasons.

    By Luula Abdulkadir, Charlie HR on 07 February 2022

    Tired Nurse MED Istock 1308274851 Bymuratdeniz

    Work: in sickness and in health?

    Two years into the Covid crisis, and as sickness absence numbers soared due to the Omicron wave, do our attitudes to sickness at work need examining?

    By Belinda Liversedge on 02 February 2022

    Commuter Istock MED

    ‘Tell workers: if you have a sore throat or a cold, go home’

    A London GP has called for the UK to change advice for employers and workers to reflect new research that shows a sore throat and a cold can also be symptoms of coronavirus.

    By Belinda Liversedge on 01 February 2021

    Sick people at work MED iStock-481491805_Yuri_Arcurs.jpg

    Infection top reason employees reluctant to return to workplace

    Infection from colleagues and customers is the biggest concern employees have about returning to work according to a new survey.

    By Belinda Liversedge on 20 August 2020

    Budget Pic 2020 430 Min

    The coronavirus Budget

    The Chancellor's Budget featured a host of measures to help fight the Coronavirus emergency, but it might equally be remembered for a complete change in approach to public spending by the Conservatives.

    By Charles Pitt on 13 March 2020

    Istock Boardroom Presenting Image By Peopleimages MED

    Five secrets to a successful wellbeing strategy

    Need to convince the leaders in your organisation to take wellbeing seriously? “Don’t just appeal to the money, appeal to the strategy,” says Professor Kevin Daniels

    By Belinda Liversedge on 29 January 2020

    Sympathetic colleague iStock_shironosovMED.jpg

    Presenteeism costing firms £29bn, says Deloitte mental health report

    Poor mental health is costing UK employers up to £45 billion, an increase of 16 per cent since it last investigated the issue in 2017, according to new analysis by Deloitte.

    By Belinda Liversedge on 24 January 2020

    Vitality image 2_iStock-1070271670_fizkes.jpg

    The hidden productivity gap

    To increase productivity is a challenge for government, business and organisations, public and private. The latest figures show a less-than-healthy picture, with the UK economy losing an estimated £81 billion each year through ill health-related absence and presenteeism.

    By Professor Dame Carol Black and Shaun Subel on 06 January 2020

    Sick worker Photo SMLL iStock-500756750_South_agency.jpg

    Number of UK sick days rose fractionally last year

    An estimated 141.4 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in the UK in 2018, equivalent to 4.4 days per worker, official figures show.

    By Belinda Liversedge on 11 November 2019