More than one in five adults (22%) who took unplanned leave in 2023 due to injury were not paid during their absence, a major new study has uncovered.

The research for employee and benefit provider MetLife UK also found that more than 11% of adults took at least 4 weeks of unplanned leave from work due to injury last year.

MetLife researched over 3,000 consumers and 500 financial advisers in June.

A quarter of people (24%) had to take between one and three weeks off in 2023 with the latest Government figures suggesting more than 500,000 were injured at work last year. 

MetLife said (22%) of consumers it surveyed said they were not paid by their employer during their periods of unplanned leave and one in five (20%) were only paid for part of their time off. 

Some 13% of people said they would rely heavily on their savings in the event of an accident or injury with 11% having to cut back on their shopping and spending to keep up with bills and costs. 

MetLife UK’s research also asked respondents how they would seek additional financial support if they were off sick and 9% said they would need to rely on their credit card or an overdraft to get by. The same proportion would borrow money from their parents.

Some 8% said they would have to rely on their partner being able to work overtime and the same percentage said they would have no option but to miss bill payments. 

Despite this, MetLife says just 7% of people have Accident and Sickness Cover and only 6% have Income Protection. 

Separate research from MetLife UK found that 35% of financial advisers who recommend protection products to clients said clients were only interested in financial protection once, “it's too late and an accident has already happened.”

About a quarter (25%) of advisers said their clients do not understand the difference in financial protection offerings. 

Rich Horner, head of individual protection at MetLife UK, said: “Accidents happen and they’re common, but our research shows us that we’re not always prepared for when it happens.

“Although it’s hugely positive that 62% of people have a form of financial protection such as life insurance, people aren’t protecting their lives for the now, for today’s moments.”

• Consumer research was conducted by Censuswide with 3,021 respondents (nat rep) (18+) between 19.06.2024 - 24.06.2024. Adviser research was conducted by Censuswide with 500 financial advisers who recommend and/or sell financial protection products (including: life insurance, income protection, critical illness cover, personal accident cover, private medical, family income benefit, whole of life, term life, mortgage cover, standalone child protection policy, accident and sickness cover) between 11.06.2024-19.06.2024.