Survey indicates that more than 4 in every 10 employers take no action until absences exceed four weeks.
A survey undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Limited of UK employers representing more than 160,000 workers has found a major disconnect between employer absence recording policies and active ill-health interventions.
Good and bad news
The research suggests that the vast majority of employers (84%) operate a robust absence recording system. Yet the same survey also indicates that more than 4 in 10 employers (42%) will not make any interventions until the employee has been off work for four weeks or more.
A further 13% of employers do not actively intervene at all until such time as a serious health concern is actively flagged to the HR team.
Magnus Kauders’ thoughts
Magnus Kauders, Managing Director of Occupational Health Assessment Limited, commented;
“It is promising that so many employers are now recording absence data. Yet that is only the first step in the process of actively combatting worker ill-health absence.
It has long been accepted that early intervention and treatment will lead to a faster return to both health and the workplace. Yet our research suggests that far too few employers are using their absence data to spark early interventions such as referrals to occupational health services and the use of employee benefits.
Employers now have the data to enable those interventions to take place. I would strongly encourage HR teams to ensure active early referral trigger points are embedded into their absence policies.”
CIPD absence data
Occupational Health Assessment Limited also point to the recent CIPD absence survey. This highlighted a further jump in employee absence rates. The CIPD survey suggests that the average employee absence per year has gone from 5.8 days at the start of the decade to a high of 9.4 days ill-health absence in 2025.
Steve Herbert’s comments
Steve Herbert, Brand Ambassador at Occupational Health Assessment Limited, observed;
“Ill health absence is bad for everyone.
The longer an employee remains unable to work the more damage is potentially done to their physical, mental and financial health, the wellbeing of their family, and the employer’s productivity and profitability.
It simply makes sense for employers to intervene at the first sign of a long-term problem, and we hope our data acts as a wake-up call for HR teams to revisit their absence and intervention policies.”
Press release issued 04/11/2025
About Occupational Health Assessment Ltd
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd is an SEQOHS Accredited and Certified B-Corp nationwide occupational health provider.
We provide rapid access to expert occupational health support for businesses right across the United Kingdom. Appointments are available nationwide within two days.
With a unique occupational health assessment service, night worker health assessments, fitness certifications and access to clinics in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke, Surrey and more, the business provides high quality, expert medical advice.
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