Now, the nation’s figures have provided evidence that one reason for the UK’s chronic labor shortage is that tens of thousands of extra people are now on long-term sick leave as a result of telecommuting. In a sign that poor ergonomics can have an impact on the economy, the Office for National Statistics found a large increase in the number of people unable to work due to neck and back injuries. Overall, the ONS said the number of people identified as economically inactive due to long-term illness rose from 2 million to 2.5 million in the three years from 2019, with more than 70% of the increase – 363,000 – occurring after the arrival of Covid in early 2020. But an analysis of the total showed that the number leaving the workforce due to neck and back problems rose by 62,000 – the second biggest reason cited. Gavin Burt, registered osteopath and clinic manager of Backs & Beyond in London, said he was not surprised by the ONS figures because he had seen a significant increase in patients coming to him with back and neck problems, particularly people in their twenties. “In an office you have a really well-designed ergonomic set-up, which helps reduce repetitive strain injury (RSI) and back pain. But we never really think about ergonomics at home.” Burt, a member of the General Osteopathic Council, added: “People were working with one foot in bed, one foot off the bed, in a slightly slouched position on their laptop or on uncomfortable dining room chairs or sofas. Essentially these are overuse injuries, in poor posture for longer than they would if they were working in an office.” The ONS said older people continued to make up the majority of those inactive due to long-term illness, but the sharpest relative increases in recent years were among 25 to 34-year-olds. Long-term illness in this age group increased by 42%, compared with a 16% jump for those aged between 50 and 64. Hugh Stickland, senior statistician at the ONS, said: “The biggest increase came from people with ‘other health problems or disabilities’. Although this category includes people affected by long Covid, we believe this is only one of many contributing factors. The next biggest rise was among people with back or neck problems. it is possible that the increased work at home has caused such conditions.’ Burt said he has already seen an improvement in some of his clients, which he attributes to the partial return to work and associated commutes, particularly for those who travel by public transport. “People often think that commuting is a chore, but it got people up and walking,” Burt said. “I’ve already seen people’s conditions improve by switching to hybrid work, returning to commuting, and when they get up and go somewhere else, it gives them the emotional space to think about exercise.” Subscribe to Business Today Get ready for the business day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The growing number of economically inactive people has been a key factor behind the labor shortages that have worried the Bank of England and contributed to higher interest rates this year. Lockdowns during the pandemic led to a rise in the number of economically inactive people reporting depression, “bad nerves” and anxiety as their main health condition in 2020 and 2021, but the ONS said the numbers had now returned to pre- pandemic levels. Alison Carter, HR leadership and wellbeing researcher at the Institute for Employment Studies, said employers should focus on ensuring their staff have workplace assessments for their office and home facilities. “From a worker welfare point of view, we need to encourage people to return to work who drop off the radar, and if the reason is musculoskeletal problems, there are natural adjustments in the workplace that can be made,” he said.
