An estimated 137 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in the UK in 2016, according to a new report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number of working days lost in 2016 was equivalent to 4.3 days per worker, the lowest recorded rate since the series began in 1993, when the number was 7.2 days per worker.

“Since 2003, there has been a fairly steady decline in the number of working days lost to sickness, especially during the economic downturn,” ONS statistician Brendan Freeman said. “In recent years, there has been a small rise in the number of days lost, but due to an increasing number of people entering the workforce, the rate per worker and overall sickness absence rate have stayed largely flat.”

The 137 million working days lost to sickness or injury in 2016 contrasts with a peak of around 185 million days lost a year in the late 1990s. Thereafter, the number of days declined to a low of 132 million days in 2013.

Minor illnesses (such as coughs and colds) accounted for the most days lost due to sickness in 2016, with 34 million days lost (24.8% of the total days lost to sickness) followed by musculoskeletal problems (including back pain, neck and upper limb problems) at 30.8 million days (22.4%). Mental health issues (including stress, depression, anxiety and more serious conditions such as manic depression and schizophrenia) resulted in 15.8 million days being lost (11.5%).

Employees tend to have a higher rate of sickness absence than the self-employed. In 2016 it was 2.1% for employees and 1.4% for the self-employed. Meanwhile, in 2016, the figures were 2.9% for the public sector and 1.7% for the private sector.

Beverley Sunderland, Managing Director at Crossland Employment Solicitors, stated that employees are not taking time off to fully recover.

“There is a common misconception that employees are entitled to company sick pay if they are ill,” Sunderland said. “In fact, their only entitlement is to statutory sick pay (£88.45 per week) and only after the first four days (including non-work days). Statutory sick pay is not available to workers such as those on zero hours contracts or working in the ‘gig’ economy.”

“Whilst many businesses do pay company sick pay, often not for the first few days of absence. This means that those with illnesses which are contagious or where bed rest will ensure a full and quick recovery (such as minor illnesses like coughs and colds, which were the most common reason for sickness absence in 2016), these people are not taking the time off but coming to work to ensure they continue to earn money. Illness is spreading in the workforce and workers are not fully productive as they are unwell,” Sunderland said.