Britain faces growing challenge of sick leaves and mental health crisis

British employers are grappling with a significant surge in sick leaves. The situation is severe, prompting the government to consider implementing additional measures to address the issue of sick notes. One proposed measure is to increase taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.

Awareness of mental health problems related to overwork is steadily rising. There is increasing discussion about burnout, bullying, depression, and anxiety disorders stemming from stressful work environments. From the employees' perspective, sick notes issued by psychiatrists are the easiest to obtain, as it is challenging to refute mental health issues definitively. Leave due to a psychological crisis is typically granted for several months, providing time for recovery and potential job searching.

The British Institute for Public Policy Research has raised alarms. In their report, experts stated, "As of the end of 2023, an estimated 900,000 extra workers are missing from work. These 900,000 missing workers could mean an estimated £5bn in lost tax receipts in 2024, while better population health could save the NHS £18bn per year by the mid-2030s."

The IPPR explains that the report took three years to compile, with coordination overseen by "cross-party experts." "Soaring levels of long-term sickness have been accompanied by rocketing disability benefit claims. The OBR earlier estimated that the combined impact of lost workers and a bigger benefit bill is costing the state around £15 billion a year," the report's authors added.

Experts indicate that the number of sick leaves results from a range of issues, including increasingly long queues to see doctors and lifestyle diseases such as mental illnesses. Many employees take short health breaks to recuperate, even if they do not entirely leave work. The report's summary states: "Its sweeping final report comes as austerity and Covid have left the UK the literal sick man of Europe – with long-term health conditions rising, healthy life expectancy stagnating, economic inactivity increasing, a growing mental health crisis, and regional health inequalities intensifying."

The British government is analysing various measures that could potentially reduce the number of people leaving work or taking sick leave. One proposed idea is to increase the tax on cigarettes and alcohol so that individuals taking time off to indulge in vices would have to return to work to afford these harmful substances.