UK Economy Loses £22 Billion to Work-Related Illness as Calls for Stronger Employment Rights Grow

March 10, 2025
UK Economy Loses £22 Billion to Work-Related Illness as Calls for Stronger Employment Rights Grow
  • This increase in sick days coincides with a notable rise in precarious employment, which has grown by a third to over 4 million individuals from 2011 to 2023.

  • The economic implications are stark, as work-related illnesses are currently costing the UK economy over £400 million weekly, amounting to £22 billion in 2023.

  • TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak argues that these findings underscore the urgent need for the Employment Rights Bill to bolster economic productivity and growth.

  • Nowak further emphasizes that enhancing job security will not only improve workers' health and well-being but also boost productivity, helping more individuals stay in work.

  • Polling data shows that 75% of managers believe that stronger employment rights would lead to improved employee health, while 74% think it would enhance workforce retention.

  • The findings reveal that poor work quality can significantly harm employee health, with certain conditions directly linked to work-related issues.

  • A recent study conducted for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) utilized data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to analyze the impact of work-related factors on employee health.

  • This analysis comes ahead of the anticipated return of employment rights legislation to the Commons, where the government aims to strengthen worker protections.

  • Since 2010, the number of cumulative sick days lost due to ill health has surged by a third, now totaling 34 million.

  • However, some business leaders express concerns that expanding employment rights and repealing anti-union laws could negatively impact economic growth.

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