Productivity in decline as sick days rise

A new survey indicates a decline in workplace productivity as the number of sick days reported rises 41% over the last three years.

This spike in sick days has been linked to a drop in workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

That’s according to findings from the latest Totaljobs Hiring Trends Index, which also found that of the 1,000 UK HR decision makers surveyed, 55% reported a decline in employee performance caused by factors such as greater workloads, low morale and increased absenteeism.

HR leaders did identify three main solutions to combat this productivity slump:

• Offering flexible working options (where possible) to promote a better work-life balance (cited by 28%).
• Increasing employee training and development (27%).
• Improving communication and clarity from leadership (27%).

Natalie Matalon, Chief People Officer at The Stepstone Group, said, “The cycle of low productivity repeats when employers can’t fill skills gaps or find the right talent. This creates a ripple effect, undermining business performance, diminishing efficiency, otherwise circular logic, lowering employee morale, and weakening workplace culture. The resulting strain on employees leads to increased sick leave, further exacerbating the issue.

“The pandemic has fundamentally challenged the way we approach work; to overcome these challenges, many organisations are turning to flexible working arrangements as a key solution. However, solutions vary by job role and industry. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but organisations can start with a clear, transparent strategy, driven and communicated by strong business leadership.”

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