Coronavirus (COVID-19) absences in the Civil Service, 2020 to 2022
Updated 14 July 2022
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1. COVID-19 related absences in the Civil Service
Management Information on COVID-19 absences in the Civil Service was first collected four days after the initial UK COVID-19 lockdown measures came into force. At this time, 13.0% of civil servants were absent from work for a COVID-19 related reason. The majority were absent for reasons including office or service closures, self-isolation, quarantine, and/or having caring responsibilities - all reasons for which staff would have been granted special leave with pay. Trends in total absence broadly followed national trends in UK case numbers, though it is notable that for the second and third waves of COVID-19, levels of special leave with pay were far lower than those experienced during the first wave, indicating the Civil Service’s improved ability to adapt to the disruption of the pandemic.
COVID-19 related absences in the Civil Service: March 2020 – May 2022
Percentage of civil servants absent by COVID-19 related reason: March 2020 – May 2022
2. Annex A: Notes and Methodology
2.1 Background
The central collection of management information on absences due to COVID-19 in the Civil Service began on 30/03/20. The data includes absences due to illness with symptoms of COVID-19 (positive test not required) and COVID-19 related special leave with pay. COVID-19 related special leave with pay includes but is not limited to; self-isolation, quarantine, caring responsibilities, office or service closures and employees, deemed to be at a greater risk of infection or more likely to get seriously ill if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19) who were not able to work from home in their current role or an alternative role.
2.2 Methodology
The data within this publication is departmental management information. These figures provide a snapshot of COVID-19 related absences at close of business on each given reference day, rather than a cumulative count of absences up to that date.
Data was collected weekly from 30/03/20-22/06/20 and fortnightly from 22/06/20-10/05/21. From 10/05/21 to 9/05/22, data was collected on a 4-weekly basis.
2.3 Scope
This data covers nearly all home Civil Service employees (see Annex D). It excludes Northern Ireland Civil Service and non-Crown Non Departmental Public Bodies.
2.4 Statistical Notes
Changes in figures during earlier weeks of reporting should be interpreted with some caution as they are in part due to changes in data quality, rather than substantive changes.
Data for the first reference date (30/03/20) excludes one organisation which was unable to provide figures. In all other cases where updated data was not received, the most recently provided data was rolled over. Particular caution is advised around the absence figures between (and including) 14/09/20 to 26/10/20 due to absence data for a large organisation not being updated over this period.
In earlier weeks of reporting, not all organisations were able to map COVID-19 related absences as either sickness or paid special leave, therefore some absence falls within ‘COVID-19 leave: unknown’ during these weeks.
As data is extracted by departments from their HR systems on the day after the reference date, figures may underestimate the underlying level of absence due to any time lags of a day or more in information being recorded into the system.
3. Annex B: Number of civil servants absent over time
| Date | Absent ill with symptoms of COVID-19 | Absent on paid special leave for a COVID-19 reason | COVID-19 leave: unknown reason | Total COVID-19 absences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/03/20 | 10,110 | 39,960 | 7,160 | 57,230 |
| 06/04/20 | 10,890 | 43,480 | 2,840 | 57,200 |
| 14/04/20 | 7,730 | 42,260 | 2,020 | 52,000 |
| 20/04/20 | 5,140 | 40,410 | 2,000 | 47,550 |
| 27/04/20 | 4,400 | 37,730 | 0 | 42,130 |
| 04/05/20 | 3,640 | 35,530 | 0 | 39,160 |
| 11/05/20 | 3,130 | 33,230 | 0 | 36,360 |
| 18/05/20 | 2,610 | 29,910 | 0 | 32,520 |
| 27/05/20 | 2,110 | 25,730 | 0 | 27,840 |
| 01/06/20 | 1,950 | 24,130 | 0 | 26,090 |
| 08/06/20 | 1,730 | 21,750 | 0 | 23,480 |
| 15/06/20 | 1,500 | 19,140 | 0 | 20,630 |
| 22/06/20 | 1,360 | 17,270 | 0 | 18,630 |
| 06/07/20 | 1,080 | 13,930 | 0 | 15,010 |
| 20/07/20 | 950 | 11,450 | 0 | 12,390 |
| 03/08/20 | 890 | 8,020 | 0 | 8,910 |
| 17/08/20 | 840 | 5,720 | 0 | 6,560 |
| 01/09/20 | 850 | 4,430 | 0 | 5,290 |
| 14/09/20 | 1,030 | 3,890 | 0 | 4,920 |
| 28/09/20 | 1,280 | 3,770 | 0 | 5,050 |
| 12/10/20 | 1,610 | 4,150 | 0 | 5,770 |
| 26/10/20 | 2,190 | 4,900 | 0 | 7,090 |
| 09/11/20 | 2,640 | 5,170 | 0 | 7,810 |
| 23/11/20 | 2,730 | 5,530 | 0 | 8,260 |
| 07/12/20 | 2,380 | 4,930 | 0 | 7,310 |
| 21/12/20 | 2,570 | 4,190 | 0 | 6,760 |
| 04/01/21 | 3,420 | 4,780 | 0 | 8,200 |
| 18/01/21 | 4,870 | 6,840 | 0 | 11,710 |
| 01/02/21 | 4,340 | 6,360 | 0 | 10,700 |
| 15/02/21 | 3,160 | 5,300 | 0 | 8,450 |
| 01/03/21 | 2,900 | 5,290 | 0 | 8,190 |
| 15/03/21 | 2,200 | 4,490 | 0 | 6,690 |
| 29/03/21 | 1,900 | 4,140 | 0 | 6,050 |
| 12/04/21 | 1,410 | 2,410 | 0 | 3,810 |
| 26/04/21 | 1,210 | 2,030 | 0 | 3,240 |
| 10/05/21 | 1,120 | 1,840 | 0 | 2,960 |
| 07/06/21 | 1,120 | 1,570 | 0 | 2,690 |
| 05/07/21 | 1,540 | 2,310 | 0 | 3,850 |
| 03/08/21 | 2,240 | 2,640 | 0 | 4,880 |
| 31/08/21 | 2,590 | 1,730 | 0 | 4,310 |
| 27/09/22 | 2,360 | 1,440 | 0 | 3,800 |
| 25/10/22 | 2,680 | 1,350 | 0 | 4,020 |
| 22/11/22 | 2,640 | 1,290 | 0 | 3,930 |
| 20/12/22 | 4,540 | 1,930 | 0 | 6,470 |
| 17/01/22 | 6,850 | 1,910 | 0 | 8,760 |
| 14/02/22 | 4,760 | 1,460 | 0 | 6,220 |
| 14/03/22 | 4,770 | 1,360 | 0 | 6,130 |
| 11/04/22 | 5,010 | 910 | 0 | 5,920 |
| 09/05/22 | 2,620 | 340 | 0 | 2,960 |
Numbers rounded to nearest 10 absences. Totals may not sum due to rounding. The figures for 31/08/21, have been revised since the last publication.
4. Annex C: Percentage of civil servants absent over time
| Date | Absent ill with symptoms of COVID-19 | Absent on paid special leave for a COVID-19 reason | COVID-19 leave: unknown reason | Total percentage absent due to COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/03/20 | 2.3% | 9.0% | 1.6% | 13.0% |
| 06/04/20 | 2.4% | 9.5% | 0.6% | 12.5% |
| 14/04/20 | 1.7% | 9.3% | 0.4% | 11.4% |
| 20/04/20 | 1.1% | 8.8% | 0.4% | 10.4% |
| 27/04/20 | 1.0% | 8.3% | 0.0% | 9.2% |
| 04/05/20 | 0.8% | 7.8% | 0.0% | 8.6% |
| 11/05/20 | 0.7% | 7.3% | 0.0% | 8.0% |
| 18/05/20 | 0.6% | 6.5% | 0.0% | 7.1% |
| 27/05/20 | 0.5% | 5.6% | 0.0% | 6.1% |
| 01/06/20 | 0.4% | 5.3% | 0.0% | 5.7% |
| 08/06/20 | 0.4% | 4.7% | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| 15/06/20 | 0.3% | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.5% |
| 22/06/20 | 0.3% | 3.8% | 0.0% | 4.1% |
| 06/07/20 | 0.2% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 3.3% |
| 20/07/20 | 0.2% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 2.7% |
| 03/08/20 | 0.2% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 1.9% |
| 17/08/20 | 0.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 1.4% |
| 01/09/20 | 0.2% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| 14/09/20 | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| 28/09/20 | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| 12/10/20 | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| 26/10/20 | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.5% |
| 09/11/20 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| 23/11/20 | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| 07/12/20 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.6% |
| 21/12/20 | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.4% |
| 04/01/21 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| 18/01/21 | 1.0% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 2.5% |
| 01/02/21 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.0% | 2.3% |
| 15/02/21 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| 01/03/21 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| 15/03/21 | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.4% |
| 29/03/21 | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| 12/04/21 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 26/04/21 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| 10/05/21 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 07/06/21 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 05/07/21 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 03/08/21 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| 31/08/21 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| 27/09/22 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 25/10/22 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 22/11/22 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 20/12/22 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| 17/01/22 | 1.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| 14/02/22 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| 14/03/22 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| 11/04/22 | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| 09/05/22 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
The percentages for 31/08/21, have been revised since the last publication.
5. Annex D: Coverage of Civil Service
Parent departments being reported, with their Executive Agencies or Crown NDPBs included and reported in the parent department
5.1 Attorney General’s Departments
Attorney General’s Office
Crown Prosecution Service
Government Legal Department
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
Serious Fraud Office
5.2 Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Companies House
HM Land Registry
Met Office
The Insolvency Service
UK Intellectual Property Office
UK Space Agency
5.3 Cabinet Office
Crown Commercial Service
Government in Parliament
Government Property Agency
5.4 Charity Commission
5.5 Competition and Markets Authority
5.6 Defence
Defence Electronics and Components Agency
Defence Equipment & Support
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Submarine Delivery Agency
UK Hydrographic Office
5.7 Department for International Trade
UK Export Finance
5.8 Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
5.9 Education
Education and Skills Funding Agency
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Standards and Testing Agency
Teaching Regulation Authority
5.10 Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Rural Payments Agency
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
5.11 ESTYN
5.12 Food Standards Agency
5.13 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO Services
Wilton Park
Government Actuary’s Department
Health and Social Care
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Public Health England
UK Health Security Agency
5.14 HM Revenue & Customs
Valuation Office Agency
5.15 HM Treasury
Government Internal Audit Agency
National Infrastructure Commission
Office for Budget Responsibility
UK Debt Management Office
5.16 Home Office
5.17 Housing, Communities and Local Government
Planning Inspectorate
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
5.18 Justice
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
HM Prison and Probation Service
Legal Aid Agency
Office of the Public Guardian
5.19 National Crime Agency
5.20 National Savings and Investments
5.21 Northern Ireland Office
5.22 Office of Rail and Road
5.23 OFGEM
5.24 OFQUAL
5.25 OFSTED
5.26 OFWAT
5.27 Scottish Government
Accountant in Bankruptcy
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Disclosure Scotland
Education Scotland
Food Standards Scotland
Forestry and Land Scotland
National Records of Scotland
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Registers of Scotland
Revenue Scotland
Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service
Scottish Fiscal Commission
Scottish Forestry
Scottish Housing Regulator
Scottish Prison Service
Scottish Public Pensions Agency
Social Security Scotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Transport Scotland
5.28 Scotland Office
5.29 The National Archives
5.30 Transport
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Vehicle Certification Agency
5.31 Wales Office
5.32 Welsh Government
Welsh Revenue Authority
5.33 Work and Pensions
5.34 UK Statistics Authority
5.35 UK Supreme Court
Crown NDPBs reported separately to parent department
5.36 Health and Safety Executive (DWP)
Crown NDPBs not currently being reported on