Part 6/11:
Notably, since the pandemic, there has been a dramatic rise—about 55% in sickness absence rates, particularly linked to mental health issues among young adults. While the increase in diagnosed mental health problems may suggest genuine health crises, it also raises the question of whether the current benefit systems inadvertently encourage individuals to claim sickness benefits over seeking employment. Moreover, the average number of sick days remains relatively low, suggesting that when people do work, they often face significant pressure.