A significant portion of UK workers are facing financial hardship due to injuries, with new research revealing that more than one in ten adults (11%) had to take an entire month of unplanned leave from work due to injury over the past year.
Alarmingly, 22 percent of those injured received no pay during their recovery period, according to a study conducted by MetLife UK, a leading provider of protection and employee benefits.
The research highlights the widespread impact of injuries, with a quarter of respondents (24%) reporting they had to take between one and three weeks off work to recover from accidents such as broken bones. With over 500,000 workplace injuries recorded by the Government last year, thousands of workers could be at risk of losing income while on medical leave.
The financial strain is evident, as one in five respondents (20%) reported being paid only partially during their time off, with 15 percent stating they received compensation for only a short period. As a result, 13 percent of those surveyed said they would need to rely heavily on their savings in the event of an injury, while 11 percent would need to cut back on everyday expenses to cover bills and ongoing costs.
Additional financial pressures were also highlighted, with 9 percent of respondents indicating they would need to turn to credit cards or overdrafts, and an equal number would have to borrow money from parents. A further 8 percent said they would depend on their partner working overtime, while another 8 percent admitted they might have no choice but to miss bill payments.
Despite these challenges, only a small percentage of people have financial safeguards in place. Just 7 percent of respondents reported having Accident and Sickness Cover, which supports recovery from injuries, and only 6 percent have Income Protection, which replaces a portion of income lost due to illness or accidents.
MetLife UK’s research also points to a gap in understanding about financial protection options. Separate findings revealed that 35 percent of advisers who recommend protection products say their clients often seek financial protection only after an accident has occurred. Moreover, 25 percent of advisers noted that their clients struggle to understand the differences between various financial protection products.
To address this, MetLife UK offers EverydayProtect, a flexible insurance plan that provides financial support for injuries and accidents, starting at just £10 per month. The plan aims to give individuals the confidence to live their lives without the fear of financial strain should they suffer an injury.
Rich Horner, Head of Individual Protection at MetLife UK, emphasised the importance of being prepared for unforeseen accidents. “Accidents are common, but our research shows that many people are not adequately protected when they happen,” Horner said. “We want to ensure that people can live their lives without the added stress of financial worry in the event of an accident. EverydayProtect offers affordable, worldwide coverage that can make a significant difference in people’s lives during recovery.”
MetLife UK’s findings underscore the need for greater awareness and adoption of financial protection products to ensure that workers are better prepared for the financial impact of unexpected injuries.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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