Top 5 reasons Australians are taking sick leave in 2022

Australians are reportedly taking higher rates of sick leave in 2022. In April, approximately 744,700 people worked fewer hours than usual, which rose to 780,500 in May – the highest levels in the pandemic to date according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

These figures are almost double those recorded in April 2021 (388,300 people) and May 2021 (485,400 people).

The demand for medical certificates

Dr Andrew Thompson, Medical Director at InstantScripts, says that with more Aussies taking sick days, the demand for medical certificates is also on the rise.  

At InstantScripts, medical certificate requests have steadily increased this year. Between January and mid-July this year, InstantScripts processed five and a half times more medical certificate requests than it did in 2021. Victorian patients contributed the most to this increase: the State saw six and a half times more medical certificate requests during this period, accounting for 33 per cent of the national increase.

Medical certificates for more than a single day of leave have also increased: certificates covering two days increased to 20 per cent in 2022, compared with 18 per cent in 2021. Certificates covering four to seven days more than doubled in 2022 – to 13 per cent, compared with 6 per cent the year prior. 

Why Australians require a medical certificate

Dr Thompson says the five main reasons behind the increase in sick leave are:

1. The flu
2. COVID-19
3. Mental health
4. Migraines and headaches
5. Gastroenteritis

“After two years of COVID-19 and extremely low influenza infections due to social distancing, Australia is experiencing a particularly bad flu season this year. From mid-April, the number of notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza cases reported to the Australian Department of Health has exceeded the five-year average.

“Most of the patients we are seeing are reporting respiratory symptoms. In this pandemic, all respiratory symptoms are treated as suspected COVID cases until proven otherwise. This means patients are unable to see a GP face to face until a negative test result is confirmed. This is motivating patients to use telehealth services to obtain a medical certificate.” 

Dr Thompson has also seen a proportion of patients requesting certificates for migraines, headaches and gastroenteritis. “Gastro can be highly infectious, so it is extremely important for individuals to stay home until symptoms have passed. Unfortunately, there has been an increasingly high number of gastro outbreaks across the country this year, particularly in childcare centres. In fact, many of the requests I’m receiving for medical certificates are not for the individual themselves, but to take time off work to care for an ill family or household member.”

Here are the reasons why you need a medical certificate in Australia.

Stress and mental health

Beyond flu and COVID, patients are commonly requesting certificates for mental health leave. “Stress is one of the most common symptoms our doctors are recording across our patient consultations for medical certificates. We are seeing a significant demand for one-day medical certificates for mental health cases where people simply need a day off work to focus on their wellbeing.”

Dr Thompson says the growing trend towards seeking mental health leave echoes a recent study by Swinburne University, which found 93 per cent of Australian workers believe their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing is just as important as their pay.

Where to from here for sick leave?

Our data shows that 44 per cent of medicate certificate requests were sought by patients aged 25 to 34 years old and 26 per cent were sought by 18-24-year-olds, between January and mid-July this year, showing a strong trend across the younger population. While over-60s are more likely to be retired and have less of a need for medical certificates, the data could also point to a generational difference between under-35s and over-60s.

Younger Australians may have been encouraged to take time off when they are sick, whereas the older population were likely discouraged to do so during their career and are therefore inherently less enthusiastic about taking time off.

Despite the growth in Aussies taking sick leave in the first half of this year, Dr Thompson anticipates a drop for the remainder of the year, with the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments continuing only until 30 September, and at a reduced rate, and isolation requirements reduced to five days.

“This move could lead to an increase in COVID and flu entering workplaces during the latter half of the year. However, ultimately, I’m confident at this stage of the pandemic that Aussies will remain vigilant and protect others by continuing to take isolation requirements seriously.”

If you need a medical certificate online we can help. Or, if you would like to talk to a doctor, we are available 6am to midnight 7-days a week.