What is employee absence costing businesses?

On National Sickie Day

Adam Saville
clock • 3 min read

The first Monday of February, according to statistics, is the day when most ‘sickies’ are pulled

According to recent research by Viking Office Supplies, 56% of workers in the past year have pulled a sickie, costing UK businesses £5.6bn, despite the Office of National Statistics seeing a decline in office sick days in the past few years. Other research by property agent Savoy Stewart found that the top five sectors with employees that are most likely to pull a sickie are retail; leisure, sport and tourism; recruitment and HR; marketing, advertising and PR and sales. It also found the top reasons for employees pulling a sickie to be a poor mental health day, being hungover and not ...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Group Protection

Employers' NI increase slowing group risk growth: Swiss Re

Employers' NI increase slowing group risk growth: Swiss Re

Group Watch report findings

Cameron Roberts
clock 23 April 2026 • 2 min read
UK unemployment rate drops to 4.9% in February 2026: ONS

UK unemployment rate drops to 4.9% in February 2026: ONS

Number of payrolled employees fell by 74,000

Cristian Angeloni
clock 21 April 2026 • 1 min read
Canada Life adds Perci Health to group CIC

Canada Life adds Perci Health to group CIC

Cancer support

Cameron Roberts
clock 20 April 2026 • 2 min read