Temperatures may have plummeted in the UK, but that doesn’t necessarily mean people are phoning in sick. In fact, a new report shows that three in five Brits admit to avoiding taking time off work for illness when they need it, even as the country sees rising rates of sick leave.

The findings, released by small business credit card company Capital on Tap, shed light on the reasons people are calling in sick, the industries and cities most affected and the cost of absences to businesses.

The Most Common Reasons for Sick Days

While flu and colds remain the leading causes of absence, the report highlights a broad range of reasons why Brits take sick leave. The top causes include:

  • Common illness (flu, colds, food poisoning) – 23% of absences, averaging 2.1 days
  • Medical appointments – 21% of absences, averaging 2.4 days
  • Headaches and migraines – 18% of absences, averaging 2.2 days
  • Uncommon illnesses or injuries – 12% of absences, averaging 2.9 days
  • Mental health issues (burnout, anxiety, depression) – 12% of absences, averaging 2.7 days

Sick days taken for issues unrelated to illness were at 9% of no-shows, averaging 2.4% of days taken off, while women’s health accounted for 6% and 2.5 days respectively.

Despite the focus on mental health in recent years, stigma remains a significant barrier. The report found that 71% of Brits don’t consider mental health a valid reason for taking sick leave, and 72% admitted they would hide the real reason for their absence if it was mental health-related.

Hangovers and Other Uncommon Reasons for Sick Days

The study also revealed that 10% of Brits have called in sick due to a hangover, with those in hospitality and business sectors most likely to do so. Other non-illness-related reasons, such as caring for loved ones or general tiredness, accounted for 9% of sick leave.

Employees take the most time off for uncommon illnesses and injuries, averaging nearly three days per year. The cost of these absences to businesses averages £399.62 per employee annually, says the report.

Industries Most Affected by Sick Leave

Certain industries reported higher rates of sick leave than others. Hospitality and events management workers were the most likely to take a sick day, with 17% reporting absences. They were also the most affected by burnout, with one in four taking time off for this reason.

Charity and voluntary workers followed closely, with 15% reporting sick leave. This group had the highest rates of absences for migraines (26%) and depression (19%).

The top industries for sick leave included:

  • Hospitality and events management – 17%
  • Charity and voluntary work – 15%
  • Teaching and education – 15%
  • Public services and administration – 14%
  • Business, consulting and management – 14%

Engineering and manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, transport and logistics and accountancy, banking and finance were all on 12% for people taking a sick day.

How Reluctance to Rest Affects Businesses

While many Brits are reluctant to take time off when they need it, the report found, absences can still cost businesses thousands annually. With sick leave rates rising by 55% since 2019, employers face increasing costs from absences.

Fay Sunmer  of Capital on Tap suggested that employers monitor patterns of sick leave and document any unusual trends, such as frequent absences around weekends. She also recommends requesting medical evidence for longer absences and ensuring disciplinary procedures comply with legal frameworks like the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the ACAS Code of Practice.

“Business owners have the right to monitor employee sick leave and document any patterns such as if they are consistently taking leave around weekends,” said Sunmer. “You are also able to request medical evidence for absences, especially those that are longer than a week.”