125 million working days were lost due to poor mental health over the last two years
Poor mental health cost UK businesses an estimated £17 billion during the pandemic, with employees taking 125 million days off work, according to wellbeing and performance experts GoodShape. Of those, 57% of the days were taken off by those that identified as female, 42% by those that identified as male, and 1% by those who chose not to identify.
GoodShape’s UK Mental Health & Wellbeing Alert revealed an 8% increase in working days lost due to poor mental health during the pandemic, compared with the two years before. Absences for confirmed cases of COVID cost UK businesses marginally more – at an estimated £18 billion, with employees taking 133 million days off.
The UK Mental Health & Wellbeing Alert compared the 25 months of the pandemic (1/3/2020 – 31/3/2022) with the 24-month pre-pandemic period (1/3/2018 – 29/2/2020).
Overall, employees took an average of 16 days off work per each mental health-related absence during the pandemic, compared to 18 days pre-pandemic. GoodShape data also indicates that 54% of workers who take two or more mental health-related absences will go on to leave their jobs.
“The mental health pandemic should not be a new revelation to employers. Before COVID, it was the top reason for lost working time across the UK. And, the last two years has only accelerated its effects,” said Alun Baker, CEO GoodShape. “With employees still facing uncertainty and hardship, enlightened leaders are proactively offering support. First and foremost, it’s the right thing to do, but good intentions are not enough. Fortunately, if you measure the impact of your interventions, powerful business benefits go hand-in-hand.”
The top five reasons for absence during the pandemic and pre-pandemic
| During the pandemic (1/3/2020 – 31/3/2022) | |||
| Reason for absence | Working days lost | Number of absence spells | UK estimated cost |
| Medical Infection* | 133m | 23m | £18bn |
| Mental Health Issue | 125m | 7m | £17bn |
| Non-Medical** | 122m | 21m | £17bn |
| Musculoskeletal | 98m | 9m | £13bn |
| Gastrointestinal | 36m | 13m | £5bn |
* Includes confirmed cases of COVID-19.
** Includes non-confirmed COVID-related absences, such as self-isolation, care of a dependent, etc.
| Pre-pandemic (1/3/2018 – 29/2/2020) | |||
| Reason for absence | Working days lost | Number of absence spells | UK estimated cost |
| Mental Health Issue | 116m | 7m | £16bn |
| Musculoskeletal | 104m | 10m | £14bn |
| Gastrointestinal | 50m | 20m | £7bn |
| Surgery | 48m | 2m | £7bn |
| Cough/Cold/Flu | 47m | 18m | £6bn |
Sectors worst affected by poor mental health
- Health & Life Sciences (including NHS): 8% increase in the number of absence spells and a 4% increase in lost working days.
- Government sector (including local government, councils): 1% increase in the number of absence spells and a 10% increase in lost working days.
- Manufacturing & Engineering: 3% increase in the number of absence spells and 3% increase in lost working days.
The high levels of mental health-related absences both before and during the pandemic suggest that despite the lifting of COVID restrictions, cases of poor mental health will continue. And for some, the lifting of restrictions will contribute to new mental health difficulties.
Suzanne Marshall, Head of Clinical Strategy at GoodShape says:
“We know that despite poor mental health being the UK’s leading cause of lost working time before the pandemic, only around a third of HR and middle managers (36%) were offered mental health first aid training.[i] With better education, processes and data, companies and their staff can focus on prevention rather than cure.”