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TfL to work to cut down absence and sickness rates

Fahad Redha

April 20, 2026
3 min read

TfL to work to cut down absence and sickness rates

TfL has joined the Keep Britain Working Review, flagging mental health support as one of its key focuses. The transport authority is working to cut absence and sickness rates among its employees as part of a government bid to keep people in work.

A 2025 report from TfL found that its overall sickness rate was 6.3%. That amounts to over 400,000 sick days. It also revealed that 6.6 million people had planned a day off, with medical leave cover arranged in advanced. Mental health had been the primary cause of staff absences, accounting for 30% of cases.

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There was a “fine balance,” TfL’s head of health and wellbeing Dr Sam Phillips said,” between improving rates of absence, “but not at the cost of people feeling that they’re coming to work when they shouldn’t be.” Long-term sickness was the cause of the majority of days lost at TfL. 286,673 days were recorded, with the average length of all sickness leave being 11.81 days.

It is already taking action, it said, to support its staff. This includes offering physiotherapy, addiction services, and trauma‑focused counselling.

“Sick days are costing the whole of the UK a lot of money, and that’s one of the reasons we’re involved in the prevention sprint, to look at ways to try and stop people from becoming ill in the first place,” Phillips said. “There is also another side to sickness absence, which is presenteeism. “In organisations where you have very low sickness absence you may have high presenteeism where people are actually at work when they shouldn’t be and they’re unwell,” she said.”

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.