Wellbeing | Why is January the worst month for staff absences?

January is the month with the highest number of sick days taken by employees in the UK, with coughs and colds, musculoskeletal problems and mental health issues being largely to blame.

Research from CharlieHR found that the number of employees taking sick days in January 2017 (1,248) was 53% higher than the average for the other 11 months of the year (816). The winter months are the most popular for sick days, with January being followed by February, with 1,114 sick days taken; and March, with 1,054.

From our magazine

Perspective of HR | Learning to feel

A recent report by the Office for National Statistics suggests that the main causes for sick days in the UK in 2017 were minor illnesses - like coughs and colds. Musculoskeletal problems - such as back pain, neck and upper limb issues also featured highly on the list, as well as mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety.

James Routledge, Co-Founder of Sanctus, said employers could be doing more to tackle mental health issues. “The biggest thing companies can do is to create an environment where stress and mental health is talked about openly - that can be a huge relief in itself,” he said.