More than half or 52 per cent of employees have had to take time off work or, if self-employed, time out of their business, due to falling ill or having an accident with around 62 per cent being left without pay, MetLife UK.
Only 38 per cent of workers were compensated for time off during their recovery. To prevent any financial hardship, 17 per cent had to take the time off without pay, and 12 per cent had to use their yearly leave. Furthermore, nearly 9 per cent of people, had to change their working hours to make up for absences.
Around 60 per cent of workers have missed up to one week due to illness, and 17 per cent have missed more than that. Just over a third or 36 per cent of those who have been injured have taken time off for up to one week, but 11 per cent have required longer.
MetLife UK head of individual protection Rich Horner says: “When everything goes like clockwork, life is fine. But when disaster strikes, life can feel instantly more challenging. And quite often, these disasters come up unexpectedly and can knock you off balance.
“The last thing anyone wants, or to think about, is having an accident or feeling unwell. When trying to manage life – including caring for our loved ones, juggling work, how your employer/team will manage if you’re not there and all the financial commitments alongside – it can make an already tough situation much more stressful. But the fact is that despite our best efforts, accidents and illnesses do happen. And having to worry about the financial impact of not being paid only adds to the stress and worry, and in some cases can prolong recovery further.
“The wellbeing of those up and down the country is important to us, which is why we are so passionate about providing simple and affordable protection cover; so workers across the UK can feel confident should life ever throw them off track.”
