Record 2.5million on long-term sick leave

LONG-TERM absence from work has rocketed to its highest level since 2004, as 2.5 million people languish on the sick list.

- Martyn Brown

Those suffering mental health issues, back and neck pain sometimes due to home working have increased. Coughs and colds have also made a comeback post-Covid.

Office for National Statistics figures show 185.6million working days were lost to sickness or injury last year.

That was 2.6 per cent of all working hours, up from 2.2 per cent in 2021.

Back in 2020, it was just 1.8 per cent, as lockdowns and lack of social mixing prevented bugs circulating.

The latest rise, driven by an increase in minor illnesses and respiratory conditions, means that for every 13 people working, one is long-term sick.