"Federal public servants were less likely to call in sick to work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, new government data shows. The figures shared by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat indicate that in 2020-21, when the pandemic had most office employees working entirely remotely, the average number of sick days for the public service was 5.9. That number grew to 8.1 in 2021-22, 8.8 in 2022-23 and 9.2 days in 2023-24."
"Dr. Alykhan Abdulla, a family doctor and board director of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, said reduced exposure is one of the main drivers of reduced sick days. Abdulla said employees could have also worked from home if they were sick during the pandemic, though maybe less productively. Abdulla said sick days could be rising again due to people's increase in exposure or their unwillingness to return to the office post-pandemic."
Average sick days for federal public servants fell to 5.9 in 2020–21 while most office employees worked remotely, then rose to 8.1 in 2021–22, 8.8 in 2022–23 and 9.2 in 2023–24. Pre-pandemic averages were higher: 9.6 in 2019–20, 9.8 in 2018–19 and 10.4 in 2017–18. Remote work and reduced exposure are identified as drivers of the lower pandemic-era sick leave. Sick days may be increasing again due to greater exposure, reluctance to return to offices, delayed health care, mental health issues and financial stress. Canada Border Services Agency and Correctional Service Canada consistently record higher sick-day usage. Treasury Board notes averages include those who used no sick leave and those who used banked leave before long-term disability.
Read at The Globe and Mail
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