Sick note Britain: More than 10 million signed off work as absence crisis grips UK

GB News - News

source • 1 mention

Sick note Britain: More than 10 million signed off work as absence crisis grips UK.

Supported by 1 story

Britain lost almost 149 MILLION working days to sickness last year as more than 10 million people were signed off work as "not fit for work", new figures reveal.Data published today by the Office for National Statistics found 148.8 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury in 2025 - almost 10 million higher than before the pandemic.Workers lost an average of 4.4 days each during the year, unchanged from 2024 but still above 2019 levels.Women, older workers, people with long-term health conditions and part-time employees recorded some of the highest sickness absence rates.

Supported by 1 story

TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The figures also revealed a sharp divide between public and private sector workers.Public sector staff recorded a sickness absence rate of 2.9 per cent in 2025 compared with 1.7 per cent in the private sector.Yorkshire and The Humber had the highest regional sickness absence rate at 2.4 per cent, while London recorded the lowest at 1.5 per cent.Minor illnesses...

Supported by 1 story