Alison Gair
Sickness rates among women in the South East reach the highest level in a decade, reveals ONS data analysis by employment law experts, Clifton Ingram.
Drawing on sickness absence data released by the ONS, the firm has identified fascinating patterns within annual absence rates across the UK workforce.
The analysis revealed that sickness absence among women in the South East rose to 2.7% in 2024 - up from 2.3% in 2014. Over the same period, the number of working days lost due to sickness climbed sharply, from 8.7 million to 12.1 million.
Senior Associate and Head of Employment at Clifton Ingram, Alison Gair, has said, “The exact reasons behind the rise in sickness absence amongst women in the South East are not entirely clear, but several regional and gender-specific factors may be contributing.
“The rising cost of living in the area, for example, may be placing increased financial and emotional pressure on women, particularly those balancing work with caregiving responsibilities.
“Building on this, childcare in the South East is amongst the most expensive in the country, and with women more likely to take on primary caregiving roles, this added burden can lead to burnout and a greater likelihood of needing time off work.”
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