National Sickie Day is observed on the first Monday of February, marking a peak in staff absences.
- Attributed mainly to seasonal illnesses, adverse weather, and increased anxiety post-holidays.
- Also influenced by post-payday revelries, often resulting in absenteeism.
- Surveys indicate a rise in employees taking sick days without being genuinely ill.
- Monday is the most common day for taking sick leave, followed by Friday.
Since 2011, the first Monday of February has been dubbed “National Sickie Day,” a day when employee absences allegedly reach their annual peak. The inception of this day can be traced back to a combination of seasonal illness, adverse weather, and heightened levels of anxiety and depression. The timing coincides with the first payday after the Christmas season, leading many to prolong their weekend celebrations into a Monday absence.
An online survey conducted by Instantprint, involving data from 2020 and 2021, revealed that 9% of British employees admit to habitually taking sick leave without being unwell. If such trends were to align with National Sickie Day, an estimated 3.6 million workers could be absent, significantly impacting productivity. On average, UK employees took four sick days per year out of 256 possible working days, marking an increase from 2.6 days in 2019.
Research by MetLife highlighted a psychological barrier for employees, as 32% indicated feeling guilty about the potential burden their absence would place on coworkers. Mondays are particularly favored for such absences, with Fridays not far behind. The likelihood of taking unsanctioned sick leave is notably high among professionals in Advertising/Media, Banking, and Electrical sectors.
While statistics from the Office for National Statistics reveal that only 8% of sick leave is attributed to mental health issues, independent research by Mynurva indicates that 43% of employees have taken mental health-related leave without formally disclosing it. This discrepancy points to a significant mental health challenge in the workplace that goes unaddressed.
To manage these challenges, experts recommend employers conduct return-to-work interviews and establish clear policies on sickness absence. Ensuring a transparent and comprehensive record of absences can help in identifying genuine health concerns and curtail potential abuse of sick leave policies. Moreover, flexibility in working options has been suggested to lower absenteeism rates. Such measures include prioritizing employee well-being through health resources and fostering a healthy work-life balance.
Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director at Activ People HR, emphasizes the importance of digging deeper into the reasons for absenteeism. He suggests that recurrent sick leave may indicate underlying issues such as stress, burnout, or job dissatisfaction, advocating for businesses to employ effective communication and support systems.
National Sickie Day reflects broader trends in workplace absenteeism, necessitating proactive employer strategies.
