Jessica O'ConnorEmployers will face growing pressure to address workplace wellbeing in 2026, as sickness absence continues to take a heavy toll on both workers and the wider economy, according to analysis from HCML.
Recent figures revealed that 40.1 million working days are lost each year due to employee sickness, affecting more than 1.7 million workers and costing the UK economy £21.6bn.
Mental health issues remained the leading cause, with stress, depression and anxiety accounting for 776,000 cases and 22.1 million lost working days.
Musculoskeletal disorders followed closely behind, responsible for 543,000 cases and 7.1 million lost days.
With NHS pressures intensifying, HCML said employers have an increasingly important role to play in supporting employee health, arguing that workplace ill-health is shaped as much by organisational culture and job design as by medical factors.
Looking ahead to 2026, HCML said several key trends are set to define workplace wellbeing strategies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology are set to become more embedded in wellbeing provision, supporting areas such as diagnosis, triage and process efficiency.
HCML stressed that technology should enhance, rather than replace, human support, enabling more personalised care and freeing up time for meaningful professional intervention.
Corporate involvement in healthcare is also expected to increase, with more employers funding health checks, screening programmes and access to diagnostics.
This approach aims to identify issues earlier, prevent conditions from worsening and reduce longer-term pressure on NHS services.
Holistic wellbeing programmes that integrate mental, physical and social support are expected to become the norm.
In addition, greater use of healthcare data was identified as another emerging trend, with organisations increasingly recognising its value in shaping effective employee assistance programmes and targeted interventions.
HCML said better use of data will allow employers to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches and tailor support to specific workforce demographics and organisational challenges.
Prevention is set to remain a central focus, with more emphasis on early screening, health assessments and education around lifestyle, mental health and musculoskeletal wellbeing.
HCML argued that proactive intervention improves outcomes for individuals while reducing absence and long-term costs.
Marc Holl, chief quality officer at HCML, said: “With intensifying pressure on the NHS and the cost of absence continuing to rise, supporting individuals in the workplace has never been more important.
“Providing access to the right healthcare requires a focus on prevention and early intervention. If we get workplace wellbeing right, employees become healthier and more resilient, organisations retain talent and reduce absence, and society benefits from a stronger workforce.
“2026 will bring more innovation to the healthcare sector, led by advances in technology along with a wider availability of data that will enable corporates to make informed decisions, and implement strategies that work to have measurable impact.”
