Scientific sector sees significant 8% spike in sick leave

A recent analysis of over 1,700 businesses has unveiled that the professional, scientific and technical activities sector has witnessed one of the largest jumps in sick leave over the past year, with an increase of 8% from 2023. This revelation comes from The Sick Leave Report 2024, undertaken by HR systems specialist Access PeopleHR, a division of the Access Group.

The study scrutinised the sickness data of over 193,000 employees across more than 15 industries. It discovered that in the professional, scientific, and technical activities sector, sick leave had risen from 88 days in 2022 to 96 in 2023. Moreover, industry-wide sick leave days have escalated by 39% since 2019.

British businesses reportedly averaged 128 days of sick leave in 2023, an increase of 6% compared to the 120 days in 2022 and a notable 55% increase since 2019. Findings suggest that employees who are primarily customer-facing rather than office-based are likely to report a higher growth in sickness absence. This is due to their reduced flexibility to work remotely.

Another potential cause for increasing absences could be deeper issues such as burnout, stress, or a general rise in sickness. This may vary across industries or even on an individual or company level. Interestingly, the data suggested that UK employees are not fully utilising their annual leave entitlement. The number of holiday days taken fell by 7.6% from 2022-2023, amplifying the probability of burnout, stress, and subsequent sick leave.

The sectors with the most profound rises in sick leave over the last year include real estate activities, recruitment, and arts, entertainment and recreation, with percentage increases of 67, 16, and 13, respectively. In contrast, administrative and support services reported the most significant decrease in sick leave, falling by 76%.

Charles Butterworth, Managing Director of the People Division at The Access Group, reflects on the research, stating: "This new report into the status of sick leave in the UK underscores the necessity of a robust HR strategy for businesses when it comes to reducing sick leave." He suggests implementing more defined policies and procedures, providing tangible support to frequent sick leave takers and adopting an HR system that facilitates better absence management.

Butterworth also discusses the rise of sick leave in the professional, scientific, and technical activities sector. He cites potential factors like burnout and long-term sickness due to the increased return to office-based work in 2023. The predominance of this trend in industries less likely to offer remote working, such as the arts, real estate, and retail, also supports this observation.

However, he spelt out an alternative explanation, speculating that a relative lack of exposure to illness during lockdown and periods of remote working could be responsible for the increase in sickness rates in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Regardless, he emphasises the importance of continuous sick leave monitoring through HR software to identify recurring issues, implement relevant actions, and determine if an attendance review is necessary.