Research and analysis

Employee research summary

Updated 15 March 2023

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Overview

DWP/DHSC commissioned two phases of mixed-methods research with employees and the self-employed, to explore workers’ perceptions, understanding and experiences of sickness absence, sick pay, occupational health, medical evidence, and workplace adjustments. The research was undertaken by Ipsos and has been published as a series of three reports:

1. Employee research Phase 1: Understanding the experiences of employees who have had a sickness absence. Qualitative research
2. Employee research Phase 1: Sickness absence, reasonable adjustments and Occupational Health. Quantitative research
3. Employee research Phase 2: Sickness absence and return to work. Quantitative and qualitative research.

Research context

The research was commissioned by the Work and Health Unit (WHU) (which is jointly sponsored by DWP and DHSC). WHU leads the government’s strategy to support working-age disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to enter, and stay in, employment. The surveys update information last collected in 2014. The accompanying qualitative research explored issues from the surveys in greater depth.

In 2021, the government published their response to the ‘Health is Everyone’s Business’ consultation. The response proposed a range of measures designed to minimise the risk of ill-health related job loss, through better workplace support for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. The research published here will provide a baseline from which we can monitor change.

Methodology

Both phases were conducted with survey respondents aged 16-75 in Great Britain who had done any paid work as an employee for seven hours or more in any week in the last month or were currently self-employed.

The Phase 1 research was conducted between Sept-Dec 2020 and included 1,950 workers (and a boost sample of 217 individuals with a long-term sickness absence), via the Ipsos MORI Access Panel. 30 in-depth qualitative interviews were then conducted with participants from this sample, identified as having a sickness absence in the past 12 months.

The Phase 2 research was conducted between April-July 2021 and included 4,435 participants, followed by 20 in-depth interviews with participants who had a sickness absence to explore their experiences further.

Key findings

General health and the impact of health conditions on work: Phase 2 report

Three quarters (75%) of workers felt that their overall health was good, but three in ten (30%) said they had a physical or mental health condition that they expected to last 12 months or more (LTHC). Six in ten (60%) of those with a LTHC said it reduced their ability to carry out day-to-day activities, and more than a third (36%) said it impacted the amount or type of work they can do in their current job.

Of those with a long-term health condition, employees were more likely than the self-employed to be affected by a mental health condition(s) (28% versus 18% respectively). Whereas the self-employed were more likely than employees to have physical health conditions related to bones or joints (31% versus 20% respectively).

For more information on general health conditions, see the Phase 1 quantitative and Phase 2 report.

Sick pay: Phase 2 report

The majority of employees who had a sickness absence in the past 12 months received some form of sick pay, with around two thirds receiving Occupational sick pay. However, more than one in ten employees had not received any sick pay during their absence from work. The most frequently cited reasons for not receiving pay were either not being off work for long enough or being told they were not entitled to sick pay.

For more information on sick pay, see the Phase 2 report.

Sickness absence and medical evidence: Phase 1 qualitative and Phase 2 report

Around one-third (35%) of workers reported a sickness absence in the past 12 months.

Survey participants reported taking a range of issues into consideration when making the decision to return to work. Key factors included workers feeling ready to go back, financial implications and workloads. For SSP recipients, the financial impact was a greater influence than for OSP recipients (a concern for 31% receiving SSP, compared to 14% receiving OSP).

In the qualitative research, many participants receiving SSP only felt that it was paid at too low an amount, and that this could influence decisions about taking time off sick.

Overall, nearly two thirds (65%) of employees who had a sickness absence, in the past 12 months, had been required to provide some form of medical evidence. Half (50%) of those who had had a sickness absence said their employer required a Fit Note after Day 7 of their sickness absence.

For more information on sickness absence and medical evidence, see the Phase 1 qualitative and Phase 2 report.

Return to work: Phase 1 qualitative and Phase 2 report

Around two-thirds (64%) of employees who had a long-term sickness absence had a meeting, or were going to have a meeting, with their employer to discuss their return to work. While some considered this to be beneficial in facilitating their return to work, others perceived this to be a ‘tick-box’ exercise.

Where phased returns to work were offered, participants valued them and 70% of participants felt they facilitated a quicker return to work. However, those receiving SSP voiced concerns around the potential for loss of income as result of working fewer hours.

For more information on return to work, see the Phase 1 qualitative and Phase 2 report.

Workplace adjustments: Phase 1 reports

Of those with long-term health conditions with a workplace adjustment in place, 65% said the process of getting adjustments was easy. Employees with health conditions who had experience with workplace adjustments found all adjustments to be beneficial.

For more information on workplace adjustments, see the Phase 1 reports.

Occupational health: Phase 1 quantitative report

Overall, 51% of employees had access to Occupational Health services. Those who were more likely to have access to OH services were employees from the public sector (71%) or those working in large organisations (69%).

Most (74%) of self-employed participants did not have OH services available to them through their current job.

For more information on occupational health, see phase 1 quantitative report.

Concluding remarks

This research provides a wealth of new data and information which is supporting the design and delivery of effective policies to improve health in the workplace and prevent ill-health related job loss.