More than half of UK employees admit to taking “sickies” to enjoy leisure time, impacting businesses financially.
- Research indicates UK businesses incur £5.6 billion annually in sick day costs, with an average absence rate of 7.8 days per employee last year.
- February is projected as the peak month for employee absences, with 350,000 expected to call in sick.
- London, Reading, and Edinburgh top the list of cities with the highest sick pay costs.
- Employers report a variety of peculiar excuses for absences, highlighting challenges in managing workforce absenteeism.
In the UK, a significant number of employees admit to taking unauthorized leave, colloquially referred to as “pulling a sickie,” to have a day off work for leisure purposes. This phenomenon has emerged as a growing concern for businesses across the nation. Over half of the British workforce (56%) has confessed to this practice, creating a substantial financial burden on companies.
Research has highlighted that UK businesses collectively bear a cost of £5.6 billion each year due to sick days. The situation has escalated to the point where the average employee records 7.8 days of absence annually. This absenteeism not only affects productivity but also contributes to increased operational costs for businesses.
The month of February is notably critical, with projections indicating that approximately 350,000 employees are likely to report sick, marking it as the peak period for absentees. Businesses must therefore brace themselves for potential disruptions during this time and plan accordingly to mitigate the impact.
In terms of regional cost distribution, cities such as London, Reading, and Edinburgh are particularly affected, recording the highest expenses in sick pay. For instance, a sick day in London costs £122.25 per employee, followed closely by Reading at £121.58, and Edinburgh at £108.30. The data suggests that these urban centers face unique challenges in managing employee absenteeism compared to other regions.
Further complicating this issue are the unconventional excuses reported by employers. Examples include, “My only pair of work trousers are in the wash,” or “The dog chewed my work shoes.” Such excuses underscore the difficulties faced by management teams in verifying the legitimacy of sick leave requests.
The prevalence of unauthorized sick leave poses significant challenges to UK businesses, necessitating strategic management to mitigate financial losses.
