Last Updated on August 27, 2025
Research by finance experts has revealed that health and social care workers are the worst affected by workplace illness. The Government has launched a pilot scheme aiming to address worrying annual sick note volumes.
The £1.5 million WorkWell pilot will see specialist staff in GP practices to help tackle the 11 million sick notes issues last year – 93% of which offered no guidance – by connecting patients with tailored support to stay in or return to work.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data reports 1.7 million cases of work-related illnesses in total annually. These work-related illnesses cost UK businesses £14.5 billion each year.
The business finance experts at Money.co.uk have analysed the latest HSE data on workplace illness to identify the industries where businesses face the biggest challenges when it comes to workplace-related illnesses.
The analysis conducted by the Money.co.uk finance experts revealed that the human health and social care work sector top the list with roughly 129,000 cases of work-related illness reported for workers’ current or most recent jobs. This is a rate of 2,780 workers per 100,000 (roughly 1 in 35).
Roles in the health and care sector are often physically and emotionally demanding. These figures highlight the importance of focusing on wellbeing support, adequate staffing and mental health resources for those working in the sector.
Joe Phelan, Money.co.uk business savings expert, said, ‘With the daily pressures of running a business, it’s easy to push saving down the priority list. However, this data is a stark reminder that a healthy contingency fund isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s crucial to protecting your people and your operations.
‘By building a safety net, you’ll be better placed to support colleagues, while keeping the business running smoothly. Building up a contingency fund doesn’t have to be complicated. Even small, regular contributions to a savings account can help businesses stay resilient through staff absences, workplace incidents, or crime-related disruptions. […]
‘This can help you protect your employees and your business if your team members get injured or fall ill […].’
You can read the full report here.
In other news, 40 of the UK’s leading health funders and charities have released a joint statement of intent calling for an end to age inequality in health research.