Key facts
- NHS sick leave absence costs taxpayers £4.6 billion annually.
- The equivalent of 80,000 NHS workers are lost to illness absence each year.
- Private sector workers typically receive only two to four weeks of full sick pay.
- Nearly a third of private sector workers are on statutory sick pay alone.
The National Health Service (NHS) is reportedly experiencing a 'sick leave epidemic' attributed to 'exceptionally generous' sick pay policies. This situation results in the loss of the equivalent of 80,000 health service workers each year due to illness absence. The financial burden on taxpayers is substantial, amounting to an estimated £4.6 billion annually. In contrast, employees in the private sector typically receive only two to four weeks of full pay for sick leave, with nearly a third of private sector workers relying solely on statutory sick pay.