Operational Effectiveness & Real-Time Modules

Develop a deep understanding of Real-Time and establish key operating principles to be better prepared prior to the day, more effective on-the-day and capture understanding and learning.

Published on 27 April 2026

Benchmarking Sickness: Resetting How We Read the Numbers

Our latest shrinkage benchmarking survey shows average sickness absence at around 8%. At first glance, this appears higher than last year’s 7.6%, suggesting an upward trend. That conclusion would be misleading. A closer look shows the apparent increase is driven by sampling rather than worsening performance. As with last year, there is wide variation across organisations, with sickness rates ranging from around 3.8% to just over 20%. That spread matters far more than the headline average.