Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

CoronavirusManufacturingLatest NewsPublic sectorSickness absence

Sickness absence rates edge higher

by Rob Moss 2 Sep 2020
by Rob Moss 2 Sep 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

The UK’s median absence rate has risen slightly meaning that the typical employee now takes 6.4 days off sick each year.

XpertHR’s 14th annual survey into sickness absence rates and costs found that the median rate of sickness absence in 2019 was 2.7% of working time, up from 2.5% in 2018. This translates to 6.4 days’ absence per employee (up from 5.6 days the previous year).

The research found that public sector workers continue to take more time off – a median of 7.5 days per year – than their counterparts in private sector services who took 6.4 days. Manufacturing and production employees took 5.7 days off sick.

Larger organisations were likely see higher absences rate among their workforce than smaller ones. Employers with more than 1000 employees had a median sickness absence rate of 8.0 days, compared with 5.7 days for organisation with 100-249 staff and just 3.8 days’ absence for 1-99 employees.

The authors said the cost of sickness absence in 2019 stood at a median of £568 per employee. However, this is unlikely to be an accurate measurement of the overall cost of sickness absence – 42% of employers said they did not know if their absence cost data was accurate or not, and only 16% believe it is very accurate. While respondents included the salaries of individuals on sick leave, few counted the cost of overtime, reduced performance, service or missed business opportunities.

XpertHR senior HR practice editor Noelle Murphy said: “While it will take some time for the full impact of Covid-19 on sickness absence rates to become clear, one thing remains striking: how much HR and employers underestimate the total cost of sickness absence.

“With the onslaught of the current stark recession, employers need to keep all costs under control –  including sickness absence. But without meaningful and accurate data, employers are in the dark about the true cost and, therefore, any savings that can be made through effective and thoughtful management of sickness absence.”

The survey also found that many employers are now planning changes to their sickness absence policies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. XpertHR’s field work took place initially in March 2020 but was paused because of Covid-19 disruption, before recommencing in June.

Half of those taking part in the latter stages of the survey said they were making changes, including:

  • paying all staff occupational sick pay when they are absent due to Covid-19 symptoms, irrespective of length of service or contractual obligations;
  • offering full pay to those who have to isolate but cannot work from home; and
  • recording sickness absence due to Covid-19 but are not including it for the purpose of assessing any absence triggers or targets.

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more human resources jobs

Rob Moss
Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. He specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts, most recently on the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and electrical markets in Asia and the Middle East.

previous post
Top 10 HR questions August 2020: Returning to work and quarantine
next post
PPMA president decides to step down

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Statutory sick pay reforms would save £4bn

19 May 2022

Spain plans menstrual leave for painful periods

13 May 2022

Brain fog: the menopause symptom impacting women at...

4 May 2022

Union accuses easyJet of corporate bullying over staff...

29 Apr 2022

Two thirds of employers do not collect enough...

20 Apr 2022

Businesses plead for free or cheaper Covid-19 tests

19 Apr 2022

Businesses sound alarm over rising Covid rates

1 Apr 2022

Top 10 HR questions March 2022: is long...

1 Apr 2022

HR must be vigilant as remaining Covid restrictions...

22 Feb 2022

Smaller businesses and TUC unite for call to...

18 Feb 2022
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+