"Early intervention is proven to reduce absence levels by helping colleagues return to work more quickly."
- Charlotte O’Brien, head of employee benefits at MetLife UK
Of those surveyed (1,000), 43% of businesses calculate the cost of staff absence as a loss in productivity, followed by average daily absence costs (41%), reduced business efficiency (39%), and direct hit to overall profitability (35%).
Notably, 20% of businesses cited lost opportunities as a cost factor, while 16% admitted they don’t currently calculate the cost of sickness at all.
MetLife UK reported that short-term sickness is costing businesses, on average, £13.8k per employee, with staff having taken almost a week off work in the last twelve months. Long-term absence is now costing employers, on average, £20.7k per employee.
These figures account for hidden and direct costs, including temporary staffing, training, administrative burdens, and increased workloads for colleagues.
“Early intervention plays a vital role in building a healthier, more resilient, and productive workforce. Acting quickly allows employers to minimise time off, reduce the risk of long-term ill-health, and ensure employees feel genuinely supported and cared for,” explained Charlotte O’Brien, head of employee benefits at MetLife UK.
She said: “Offering preventative and early support services – like GP24, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), and access to counselling – allows health concerns to be addressed before they escalate. Left unmanaged, these issues can become more serious, leading to prolonged absence, higher costs, and greater disruption for the business.
“Early intervention is proven to reduce absence levels by helping colleagues return to work more quickly. We’ve found that 96% of employees have a positive outcome from being able to step in at an early stage of absence,” Charlotte concluded.
