Workers must call bosses on sick leave: UK adviser

Sir Charlie Mayfield, a senior UK government adviser, has advised workers to inform their bosses directly when they are sick and unable to work. The UK's welfare bill is projected to reach £333 billion this year and £407 billion by the end of the decade, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. Sir Charlie, leading the Keep Britain Working taskforce, aims to change work norms regarding sick leave.

He insists that employees must make phone calls to their employers when requesting sick leave, as he believes this establishes a more active dialogue between workers and employers. Sir Charlie criticized the UK's approach to sick leave, stating that the country is failing to address long-term issues related to prolonged absences.

He emphasized the need for open conversations between employers and employees regarding health problems, both physical and mental. His recommendations include encouraging employees and employers to collaborate on return-to-work plans, which may involve mental health support or role adjustments. Sir Charlie believes that frequent sick days are not just a problem in the UK but are also prevalent in the United States, where work absences related to health issues have surged since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Germany, the government has proposed stringent regulations to combat excessive sick leave, including mandating medical documentation for short-term absences and limiting the ability to obtain extended sick notes via phone consultations. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that these changes are necessary to boost Germany's economy, which has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and Iran.