UK highlights from the WTW Absence Management Survey, 2026
Absence and disability-related expenses are becoming major financial pressures.
| Mental health issues | 83% |
| Minor illness | 47% |
| Workplace stress | 43% |
| Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues | 40% |
| Chronic conditions | 34% |
| Family care issues | 24% |
| Injuries at work | 1% |
Mental health is the top issue employers are looking to address.
Actions to review the following:
| Action taken | Planning or considering | |
|---|---|---|
| Absence policies and processes | 53% | 40% |
| Wider leave policies | 40% | 43% |
| Integration of absence strategy with sick pay, benefits and wellbeing strategy | 28% | 57% |
| Operational processes, roles and responsibilities | 25% | 42% |
| Disability insurance cover | 13% | 35% |
UK employers are rethinking their absence management strategies with a clear shift toward a more integrated approach
| Action taken | Planning or considering | |
|---|---|---|
| Review provider performance | 29% | 46% |
| Renegotiate terms or switch to better value providers | 20% | 55% |
| Review service capabilities | 20% | 54% |
| Assess employee views on provider services | 13% | 42% |
| Add performance standards as part of contracts | 7% | 32% |
Many employers are taking steps to bring costs down by taking a more active approach to managing their provider relationships.
| Risk Management | Action Taken | Planning or considering |
|---|---|---|
| Health and safety and risk assessments | 80% | 8% |
| Pre-employment employee questionnaire | 58% | 10% |
| Offer health risk screenings or assessments | 50% | 22% |
| Case Management | Action Taken | Planning or considering |
|---|---|---|
| Return to work assessments | 83% | 13% |
| Counselling support during illness or disability | 78% | 15% |
| Use condition specific care pathways | 43% | 35% |
| Specialist case managers | 26% | 14% |
Employers are looking to reduce spend by directing support for high cost cases through defined care pathways.
| Actions taken | Planning or considering | |
|---|---|---|
| Identify workforce segments at higher risk | 40% | 48% |
| Enhance reporting on claims | 14% | 51% |
| Forecast future cost and risks | 9% | 56% |
Stronger insights into absences drivers help employers take smarter, more effective action.
Effective absence management relies on robust organisational policies and managers who are confident and capable in applying them. Increasingly, employers are investing in training and support to boost effectiveness.
Source: Absence Management Survey 2026, United Kingdom
About the survey: Our Absence Management Survey 2026 took place in the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, between September and November 2025. 141 employers responded in the UK, with representation from a broad cross section of industries and size of organisation.
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| Title | File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Key trends driving workplace absence in 2026 in the UK | .2 MB |
