Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost to the economy of frequent short-term sickness absences.

The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the number of short-term sickness absences and therefore cannot estimate the cost to the economy of these absences. Whilst employers may record employer sickness absence, there is no reporting requirement to share administrative data when an employee takes a sickness absence.

In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Report, setting out recommendations to reshape how government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes through creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. We are now working with over 150 volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches to help disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions receive the support they need to remain and thrive in employment. These include developing effective stay in work and return to work practices, strengthening prevention, and building the evidence needed to spread good practice.

Any long-term system reform is expected to combine both employer and state-led provision, and in May 2026, the Government announced that it would test reform of the fit note, beginning with pilots in 4 Integrated Care Boards across England. With over 11 million fit notes issued each year, the pilots aim to shift from a system of administrative sickness certification to one focussed on getting people the support they need to stay in work and sustainably return.