Sir Charlie Mayfield, a senior government advisor in the United Kingdom and former head of John Lewis, has proposed a shift in workplace communication regarding sick days. He advocates for employees to contact their managers via phone calls when reporting an illness, arguing that text messages, emails, or WhatsApp messages are insufficient and hinder direct dialogue.
Mayfield, who led a government-funded investigation into workplace absences in the UK, stated in an interview with The Times that the goal is to "change the norms" surrounding sick leave. He believes that a direct conversation allows for better communication between employers and employees, fostering a more supportive environment. "You can't just text, send a WhatsApp, or send an email," Mayfield said. "You've actually got to ring somebody up."
His report, titled “Keep Britain Working,” highlighted a significant increase in younger workers, specifically those aged 16 to 24, reporting health conditions that impact their ability to work. This age group saw a 77 percent rise in such reports, with mental health conditions accounting for nearly half of these cases. Mayfield aims to address a "culture of fear" where managers may hesitate to follow up with absent employees due to concerns about formal complaints.
Mayfield's proposed solution involves encouraging a more open dialogue about health, both physical and mental, between employers and employees. He suggests that these conversations can facilitate the development of return-to-work plans, which might include mental health support or role adjustments. "It gives you the opportunity to have a conversation," he explained. "To say, I’m really sorry to hear that. How long is this going to be for? Is there something we can do about it?"
He emphasized that the norm should shift to a point where it is "almost never the case that you should be allowed to be off sick without being in contact with your employer."
These discussions about sick day practices come amid broader trends in workforce absenteeism. A study published in Jama Network in 2025 indicated that U.S. workers have been taking more sick days since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research found a substantial increase in health-related absences, averaging 1.29 million sick days per month. The study's authors suggested that these findings should inform public policy and that interventions should be considered to mitigate the pandemic's effects on the labor force.