Around 1.8 million workers suffer from work-related ill health

677,000 new cases reported every year

Jaskeet Briah
clock • 2 min read

Around 1.8 million workers suffered from work-related ill health in 2022/23, with 875,000 of cases due to stress, depression or anxiety, according to data from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

An estimated 35.2 million working days were lost in 2022/23 due to self-reported, work-related ill health or injury, and the current rate of self-reported, work-related stress, depression or anxiety is higher than the pre-pandemic level. Sarah Albon, HSE chief executive, said: "Preventing or tackling work-related stress can provide significant benefits to employees, improving their experience of work and their overall health; and also to employers including increased productivity, decreased absenteeism and reduced staff turnover." According to an analysis of HSE data by independent co...

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

Keep Britain Working: 7% of UK GDP lost per year due to ill-health

Keep Britain Working: 7% of UK GDP lost per year due to ill-health

Sir Charlie Mayfield review published

Cameron Roberts
clock 05 November 2025 • 4 min read
Keep Britain Working: Industry reaction

Keep Britain Working: Industry reaction

"We need this change to be universal"

Jaskeet Briah
clock 05 November 2025 • 7 min read
Employer interventions on ill-health left too late

Employer interventions on ill-health left too late

Occupational Health Assessment findings

Jaskeet Briah
clock 04 November 2025 • 2 min read