An analysis reported by multiple outlets says sick leave absence rates increase in major UK government departments, with the rise occurring during the period when Labour is in government. The figures show that staff absence levels grow by amounts described as up to nearly a fifth in some departments, indicating a notable worsening compared with the prior year.
The reporting characterises the overall change as a surge in sick leave across Whitehall departments, sometimes referred to as the “Whitehall blob,” and points to the scale of the increase rather than attributing it to a single cause. The coverage relies on absence and sickness record data, comparing departmental rates over time.
While the articles focus on the magnitude of the increase, they do not present consistent detail across departments beyond the general trend. Overall, the accounts agree that sick leave is higher than previously, and that the rise is measurable in multiple major government bodies.
