US EditionNumber of sick days taken by public servants growing post-COVID
- The Canadian Press reported on August 31, 2025, that average sick days for Canadian public servants rose from 5.9 in 2020-21 to 9.2 days in 2023-24.
- This rise followed a dip during the pandemic when most office employees worked remotely and likely took fewer sick days due to reduced exposure to germs.
- Experts such as Catherine Connelly and Dr. Alykhan Abdulla attribute the initial drop in sick days to less commuting and working from home even when mildly ill, while noting factors like delayed health care may now increase sick days.
- Between 2017-18 and 2023-24, staff members from the federal agencies responsible for border security and corrections regularly recorded some of the highest numbers of sick days and were less inclined to endorse their workplaces as great places to work.
- The upward trend in sick days implies rising illness levels possibly driven by more exposure and mental health challenges, while Ontario plans to mandate public servants back to the office full-time in 2026.
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43 Articles
43 Articles
The average number of sick leave in the public service increased from 5.9 in 2020-2021 to 9.2 in 2023-2024.
·Montreal, Canada
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Federal public servants were less likely to take days off because they were ill at the height of the VOCID-19 pandemic, according to new government data.
·Montreal, Canada
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Total News Sources43
Leaning Left17Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Left
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources lean Left
71% Left
L 71%
C 21%
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