Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that employees took an average of 4.1 days off sick in 2017 – almost half the 7.2 days taken in 1993, when records began. Other key statistics are: the proportion of working hours lost to sickness absence dropped to 1.9% in 2017; the percentage of working time lost was 1.7% in the private sector  and 2.6% in the public sector; minor illnesses, such as coughs and colds, accounted for 34.5% of working hours lost; musculoskeletal problems represented 17.7% of absences, and stress, depression or anxiety were given as the reason for 7.6% of absences; and, women were more prone to minor illnesses than men (38.5% compared with 32.7%), with men more prone to musculoskeletal conditions (28% compared with 18.4%).

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