Stress: the most common cause of long-term sickness absence

Stress is the most common cause of long-term sickness absence, according to employers.

Stress is the most common cause of long-term sickness absence, according to employers.

A joint survey, by the CIPD and healthcare provider Simplyhealth, found that more than one third of employers said stress was the main reason for long-term sickness absence in the past year.

Some 73% of manual and 79% of non-manual public sector employers said stress was one of the most common causes of absence.

The research shows higher sickness absence levels over the past year in the public sector than in the private sector. The CIPD says this could be in part due to stress around potential restructuring and the kind of public-facing roles they are involved in. It also warned against presenteeism, where employees come into work when they are sick because of anxiety about their jobs.
 

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