"Having to worry about the financial impact of not being paid only adds to the stress and worry, and in some cases can prolong recovery further."
- Rich Horner, Head of Individual Protection at MetLife UK
Of those surveyed (2,009), 17% were forced to take unpaid sick leave, while 12% had to use annual leave to avoid the financial implications of ill-health or injury in January 2024. Notably, 9% had to alter their working hours to accommodate absence.
The majority of employees (60%) took up to a week off work due to ill-health – 17% took longer. Meanwhile, 36% were absent for up to a week, and 11% for longer, after injury.
Only 38% of employees received paid sick leave while recovering from ill-health or injury.
“When everything goes like clockwork, life is fine. But when disaster strikes, life can feel instantly more challenging. And quite often, these disasters come up unexpectedly and can knock you off balance,” said Rich Horner, Head of Individual Protection at MetLife UK.
He highlighted that “When trying to manage life – including caring for our loved ones, juggling work, how your employer/team will manage if you’re not there and all the financial commitments alongside – it can make an already tough situation much more stressful.”
“The wellbeing of those up and down the country is important to us, which is why we are so passionate about providing simple and affordable protection cover; so workers across the UK can feel confident should life ever throw them off track,” Rich concluded.
