Sickness absence management and rates 2024

The 2024 Brightmine sickness absence management survey delves into absence management practices as well as staff absence metrics for the 2023 calendar year. The survey is based on responses from HR professionals at 211 organisations, covering a combined force of 181,788 employees.

Survey questions

• ​​​​​​​Does your organisation record sickness absence rates?
• What was your organisation's absence rate for 2023 (percentage of working time)?
• What was your organisation's absence rate for 2023 (Total days absence FTE)?
• How has your organisation’s total sickness absence rate changed over the past 12 months?
• How has your organisation’s long-term sickness absence rate changed over the past 12 months?
• How has your organisation’s short-term sickness absence rate changed over the past 12 months?
• What are the sick pay arrangements at your organisation?
• Does your organisation measure the cost of employee sickness absence?
• Which metrics does your organisation use to calculate sickness absence costs?
• How would you rate the quality of the data your organisation gathers in terms of sickness absence rates/days?
• How would you rate the quality of the data your organisation gathers in terms of sickness absence costs?
• Does your organisation provide sickness absence management training for managers?
• Which topic areas does sickness absence management training cover?
• Does your organisation set absence triggers?
• Does your organisation set absence targets?
• What are the absence triggers set by your organisation?
• What practices does your organisation use to effectively manage sickness absence?
• What are the main barriers to absence management at your organisation?