UK hospitality workers took an average of 5.8 days off work due to illness, with many working overtime to make up for the losses faced by the events industry during lockdown.

Switzerland and Sweden shared the top spot when it came to high attendance, with their workers taking just 2.4 days of sick leave on average over the course of a calendar year. Bulgarian employees were found most likely to call in sick, taking on average 22 days off per year according to the most recent figures available.

Commenting on the figures Mark Dewell, managing director of Mitrefinch, said: “Workplace absences cost the UK economy a whopping £18 billion a year through lost productivity, with this figure expected to creep up to £21 billion in 2022 – causing significant losses for the hospitality industry as a whole. On top of the dip in productivity, employees who are renowned for calling in sick can put extra strain on other staff members who have to pick up their workload as a result.

“But, that’s not to say that taking a sick day should be viewed as a weakness or a lack of commitment, and it’s clear that this mentality is unhelpful for the wellbeing of its workers. Taking time out of work to recover from injury or illness (be that physical or mental) is important for productivity and growth.”

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