Absence Management

Absence Management

By Cathy Brough

The recently published CIPD report (2025) indicates that UK sickness absence rates are at their highest level for 15 years, with long-term mental health being a major contributing factor. Current absence levels were reported at an average of 9.4 days per employee, incurring significant costs for employers.

There is clear evidence that work is good for people (Waddell & Burton, 2006). Being in work is better for health and wellbeing than being out of work.

When looking at sickness absence data and thinking about strategies for reduction, it must be understood that not all sickness is avoidable. We are human, and humans will get sick from time to time. People who are recovering post-operatively or acutely unwell may be genuinely unable to work. Data suggests that 78% of the reported average number of UK sick days relate to short-term absence (CIPD, 2025)

There is evidence that presenteeism is a significant cost to organisations in terms of loss of productivity (IPPR, 2024), with multifactorial reasons contributing to people working when they are unwell (Kinman & Grant, 2025). Is it possible to bring down sickness absence rates without driving up presenteeism?

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