Sick leave within the UK's civil service has seen a significant increase under the Labour government, with absence rates rising in nine out of twelve major government departments analyzed. The data, covering the 12 months to April, shows a surge in lost working days, averaging nearly two weeks per civil servant.
The Work and Pensions department, tasked with reducing sickness benefit claims and encouraging employment, recorded a 19% increase in sickness rates. According to its annual report, by March 31, 2026, there were 4,134 absences, representing 4.4% of the workforce, up from 3.7% the previous year.
Other departments also reported substantial increases. The Home Office saw a 13% rise, with an average of 8.37 working days lost per staff member, compared to 7.4 days the year prior. The Environment department experienced an 18% increase, losing an average of 6.2 days per employee, up from 5.25 days. The Ministry of Defence reported that mental and behavioral disorders accounted for 30% of all absences, with each staff member taking an average of nearly seven days off sick.
The Transport department also saw an increase to six days per staff member, noting that mental ill health is the primary cause of long-term absence. Sickness rates also rose in the Energy, Business and Science, Technology, and Treasury departments.
Conversely, the Foreign Office and Culture and Housing departments reported decreases in sick leave.
This rise in absences occurs as the total number of civil servants has grown to 520,000 as of April, a significant increase from 384,000 before the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Critics have voiced concerns about the trend. Mike Wood, the Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister, stated that Labour has "built a Whitehall that signs itself off, with the bill landing on taxpayers." He added that a Conservative government would aim to reduce the size of the Civil Service and cut waste.
Shimeon Lee, a policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, remarked that the civil service "cannot preach welfare reform while its own sickness rates are surging." He urged ministers to address poor management and ensure taxpayer money is not supporting a "culture of drift and decline."
Government officials have countered that Office for National Statistics (ONS) data indicates civil service sickness rates are comparable to the private sector. They also stated that measures are in place to support staff in remaining at work and returning after illness.
The analysis highlights concerns about prolonged absences, often linked to mental health issues, contributing to the overall increase in sick leave.