A record 185.6 million working days were lost to sickness absence in the UK in 2022, 47.4 million more than pre-pandemic, according to official data.
The sickness absence rate also rose to 2.6% of working hours lost because of sickness or injury, the highest level in almost two decades when the figure was last at 2.7% in 2004.
However, the 5.7 days lost per worker was not a record as the total number of workers in the UK has risen since the 1990s.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed the sickness absence rate rose for all age groups, but was worst for older people and those with long-term conditions.
For people aged 65 years and over, the sickness absence rate increased again to 3.7%, the highest on record.
And the rate of 4.9% for those with long-term health conditions hit its highest point since 2008, when it was 5.1%, with this population accounting for a record high of 104.9 million days.
Sickness absence rates continued to be lower for men (2.2%) than women (3.2%), as they have consistently been since 1995, the ONS noted.
Rates increased in 2022 in all age groups for men, and women except women aged 16 to 24 years. Rates were higher for women than men in all age groups except for those aged 65 years and over.
Minor illnesses were the most common reason for absence, accounting for 29.3% of occurrences, followed by other conditions at 23.8% which includes Covid-19.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems (10.5%), respiratory conditions (8.3%) and mental health conditions (7.9%) completed the top five reasons.
The figures also reinforce further data from the ONS in March which showed the number of people economically inactive due to long term sickness more than doubled in the previous year and was 25 times higher than before the pandemic.
This figure increased again this month with a further 7,000 added to the list.
Huge red flags for employers
Broadstone head of health and protection Brett Hill said the data was “concerning” and should raise huge red flags for employers up and down the country.
“The rapidly declining health of the nation’s workers will have a devastating impact on productivity,” he said.
“Bosses should brace for an acceleration of this trend in 2023 given the current crisis in the NHS with patients struggling to access appointments and treatment in good time.
“It is particularly worrying to see the record absences from those with longer-term health conditions as the evidence shows those who are off sick for extended periods often struggle to return to the workplace, resulting in permanent loss to the UK workforce.”
He noted that businesses were increasingly recognising how important protecting the health of their employees was now they could no longer rely on the NHS.
Unum UK director of claims, rehab and medical services Paula Coffey said that with such a steep rise in the number of days lost to sickness absence, preventative services are key.
And she highlighted that the insurer was still seeing a high number of group income protection (GIP) claims for MSK related conditions and mental ill health.
“Without long-term changes to how we manage sickness absence as a society, particularly in terms of preventative measures available from employers, we may continue to see a trend of rising sickness absence to the detriment of employees, putting further pressure on an already tight labour market,” Coffey added.