Financial wellbeing | Employees returning to work too early after illness, due to cost of living pressures

By Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development & Marketing at Generali UK Employee Benefits

As the cost of living crisis continues to take its toll on the economy and on health and wellbeing, there’s a potential risk of employees returning to work too early after illness, because they’re worried about the finances, says Kay Needle, early intervention and rehabilitation expert at Generali UK Employee Benefits.

This brings with it the combined possibility of worsening employee health and increasing presenteeism; potentially even loneliness and the knock on impact that can bring on physical and mental health, as our experts explain.

Almost a year ago now, a survey by the Royal College of Physicians found that over half of people in the UK felt their health had been negatively impacted by the rising cost of living; 84% saying this was due to increased heating costs, and over three quarters (78%) reporting a decline in health due to the rising cost of food. Meanwhile, 16% of those impacted had been told by a doctor or health professional that stress caused by rising living costs had worsened their health.