Long-term sickness increases to a record high - ONS

Long Covid is with us to stay I'm afraid, if my experience is anything to go by. I had Covid in April 2020 and it's only in the last few weeks that I can say I think I'm free of Long Covid. Just as the incidence of Covid infections is still high, so Long Covid will remain high. I believe we as employers need to reassess our attitude towards working and illness in order to cope with this.

As a coach and trainer, I am seeing a lot of people with long-term sickness due to high stress levels, overwhelm and burnout. This is especially true in organisations such as the NHS, social workers and the police, namely those that continued to work throughout the pandemic.
Only occasionally am I seeing anyone with Long Covid. My conclusion is that people sometimes report their absence as Long Covid when their absence is due to overwhelm and long-term chronic stress.

Stress, anxiety and depression have been leading causes of workplace sickness absence for several years. Rates have increased further since the COVID-19 pandemic and are at their highest level for over two decades. The cost of living crisis and global threats such as climate change contribute to the daily pressures people experience and create fear and uncertainty about the future. This increases people's vulnerability to stress and more serious ongoing mental health problems. High workloads and a lack of control or support in the workplace also contribute to stress. With increasing rates of long-term sickness, the connection between good employee well-being and a healthy, engaged workforce is increasingly being recognised. When an employee is off sick for a long period, others pick up the pieces, affecting their health in turn and upsetting team performance. Taking a strategic approach to reduce stress and enhance workplace well-being will protect employee mental health.