The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing intense scrutiny after it was revealed that nearly 1,650 of its staff received formal performance warnings for exceeding sickness absence limits in the past year. The figures have ignited a debate about productivity and management within one of Whitehall's largest departments.
MP's Question Reveals Scale of Formal Warnings
The data came to light following a parliamentary question from Neil O'Brien, the Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston. He requested information on the number of working days lost to sickness across the DWP and its agencies.
In a written response, Labour's Andrew Western, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, confirmed that 1,649 formal performance warnings were issued to staff whose absences surpassed departmental triggers. The minister noted, however, that due to the way data is recorded, the DWP cannot confirm every warning was solely due to excessive sickness.
Data Gaps and Management Questions
The disclosure highlights potential issues with internal record-keeping. Andrew Western stated that the most recent published sickness data covers the year ending March 31, 2025, a period under the previous Conservative administration. The DWP's total headcount as of November 2025 stands at 95,164.
The department also clarified that absence figures for its executive agency, Skills England, are not included in the overall count, as its HR functions are managed by the Department for Education.
Taxpayer Concerns and Calls for Reform
The revelation has prompted sharp criticism from spending watchdogs. John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "These figures suggest a worrying culture of absence in one of the biggest departments in Whitehall."
He argued that taxpayers are entitled to question whether the DWP is being properly managed when over a thousand staff trigger formal warnings. O'Connell called for the department to tighten attendance controls, improve data systems, and ensure staff are delivering for claimants.
The news emerges at a sensitive time, as ministers push to get more people back into work and express concern over the growing cost of welfare support linked to sickness and economic inactivity. The figures are likely to fuel ongoing debates about efficiency and accountability within the public sector.
