UK sickness absence rate down to four days a year

THE sickness absence rate has fallen to an average of just over four days a year for every worker, according to new figures.

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An estimated 148.9 million working days were lost in the UK because of sickness or injury in 2024, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The percentage of working hours lost fell by 0.3 percentage points over the year to 2%, said the report.

Minor illnesses were the most common reason for absence, accounting for almost a third of cases, followed by musculoskeletal problems at 15.5%.