"We can work together to improve that by focusing not only on how to get them back to work, but how to prevent that absence in the first place."
Long-term absence from work is generally defined as a period lasting more than four weeks. In Q1 2025, 2.78mn people weren’t working due to long-term health conditions.
MetLife UK recently undertook research which found long-term absence is costing employers, on average, £20.7k per employee. This figure accounts for hidden and direct costs, including temporary staffing, training, administrative burdens, and increased workloads for colleagues.
READ MORE: MetLife UK finds just 16% of businesses don’t calculate the cost of sickness
The economic impact is undeniable.
“With staff having taken almost a week off work in the last twelve months, it’s clear that the UK is facing a real crisis.”
Businesses measure the cost of sick leave in various ways. 43% said they measure it as a loss in productivity, whereas 41% look at average daily absence costs, such as employee wages. Others look at reduced business efficiency and lost opportunities.
The Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ whitepaper, published last year, talked about easier access to doctor appointments and mental health resources to help employees return to work. This support is crucial, but so is intervening early enough to prevent short-term absence from becoming a long-term issue.
It touched on this, promising measures like a tax on unhealthy drinks and cigarettes to make them less attractive. But there’s a role for the employer too; it’s mutually beneficial to invest in keeping employees healthy in the workplace, and many businesses are recognising that.
“Early intervention plays a vital role in building a healthier, more resilient, and productive workforce.”
By acting quickly, employers have the best possible chance to minimise absence and reduce the risk of long-term health conditions. That also means that employees feel genuinely supported and cared for.
It’s the reason why MetLife UK has woven prevention and early intervention into our Group Income Protection (GIP) offering. Providing preventative and early support services such as GP24, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), and access to counselling allows health concerns to be addressed before they escalate.
“We’ve all heard that phrase ‘what gets measured, gets managed’. That’s never been truer than when it comes to health.”
MetLife UK has also recently teamed up with YuLife to elevate our focus on prevention. Nobody wants to be ill, so education and support on health & wellbeing will always be well received. Gamified wellbeing tools engage employees on long-term health and productivity, offering incentives for people to take control of their health.
The goal is to keep working, empowering individuals to build healthy habits that reduce stress, boost resilience, and help them on their journey to both recovery and sickness prevention.
The growing number of people taking sick leave is difficult for the individuals, their businesses, and the economy. We can work together to improve that by focusing not only on how to get them back to work, but how to prevent that absence in the first place.
