Sickness leave | Attitude to mental health 'going too far', says Secretary of Work and Pensions

The Secretary of Work and Pensions Mel Stride has come under scrutiny for saying that the UK’s current attitude towards mental health is “going too far”.

The minister also said that businesses placing too much emphasis on the “normal anxieties of life” was adding to the increase in mental-health related sick absences being seen in the UK workforce.

These comments were made alongside an announcement to encourage 150,000 people currently away from work with ‘mild illnesses’ to look for a job.

The UK’s ‘benefits bill’ is reportedly set to reach the £100billion mark this month, with many ministers like Stride feeling like people taking time off work for less serious mental health concerns is driving up this figure.