Absenteeism at crisis point
One in five working-age people in the UK are out of work and not looking for it. This challenge has been recognised, but most of the focus has been on getting people, especially young people, back into work.
That’s vital. But it risks missing another problem: one in ten workers are at risk of leaving the workforce altogether, according to our research. For businesses, that means losing skilled people. For the Exchequer, it means £38bn in lost revenue.
This report puts the spotlight on that group. Inside, we look at:
- The scale of poor workplace wellbeing
- What’s driving it
- The impact on workers, businesses and the economy
- The specific risks facing frontline workers
- The gap between the support employers offer and the support that actually helps
“This is why Sonder is proud to be an active part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Keep Britain Working Vanguard Taskforce, and why we are committed to working with government, employers and other partners to tackle the root causes of workplace ill health. The findings in this report set out the scale of the challenge. They also point to a real opportunity to keep people healthy, productive and in work.”
CEO at Sonder
Why did we produce this report?
Most conversations about the UK’s workplace wellbeing crisis focus on getting people into work. Less attention goes to those already there, and what they need to stay.
We wanted to close that gap. And within it, one group stood out: frontline workers. Our research shows they face some of the biggest challenges at work, yet often have the least support in place. This report aims to highlight that gap, and put frontline industries in focus.
Sonder was built with these workers in mind. Too many traditional support offers are designed for office-based teams and don’t flex for shift workers, unsociable hours or the daily pressures of frontline roles. This report shows why the right support matters as much as having support at all.
What is Sonder?
Trusted by over a million employees and students, Sonder is an all-in-one platform that helps your people feel safe, supported, and well, wherever they are.
We combine award-winning technology with 24/7 clinically-led support, replacing fragmented services with a single, integrated solution for maximum efficiency. This drives rapid, early intervention with members connected to expert help in under 30 seconds.
With industry-leading usage rates and a decade of proven operation, Sonder delivers measurable ROI on engagement, wellbeing, and workforce resilience, while providing organisations with powerful real-time risk analytics. Sonder is the clear, data-driven alternative to legacy support models.
Setting a new standard for organisational care. Find out more at sonder.io
How Sonder supports workforces or all types and sizes
Sonder is the all-in-one platform providing integrated tools and clinical expertise to empower your team’s safety and resilience. We ensure help is immediate and accessible across every part of your organisation, replacing fragmented support with a single, reliable solution.
With Sonder your people have access to:
Complete clinical care
24/7 confidential access to nurses, clinicians, psychologists, and counsellors for urgent physical and mental health concerns, with care extended to dependents and teams impacted by critical events.Flexible, immediate access
Help is available instantly via multiple channels—calls, texts, and in-app messaging—ensuring support however they are most comfortable, backed by an independent and confidential platform.Proactive resilience
Guidance for managers on handling complex wellbeing issues, alongside tools and insights that identify early warning signs of stress or burnout to reduce risk escalation and boost team productivity.
By accessing timely support through Sonder, 71% of members self-report they were able to resolve their issue without needing to visit a GP or emergency department.
Methodology
The research was conducted by Strand Partners for Sonder among 2,500 UK workers between 30/03/2026 and 07/04/2026. Workers were defined for the purpose of the research as adults employed on a full-time basis. The sample was representative of the overall UK workforce by region, age and gender.
Strand’s specialist in-house quantitative research team managed the process end to end. Strand Partners is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
Industry and working pattern analysis
The polling included a viable sample of at least 150 respondents across the following industries:
- Healthcare & emergency services
- Retail
- Construction and facilities management
- Transportation and logistics
- Hospitality and food service
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Utilities and energy
For the purposes of analysis, we also identified a subset of 723 shift workers, and 1,007 frontline workers, defined as people who have to be physically present at their workplace and work directly with customers or the public, rather than from behind a desk or at home.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this report and on this website is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Although all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information presented, Sonder takes no responsibility for any errors or omissions presented. Please contact a legal representative for individual advice.
