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03/12/2001
“Sign Off” culture rampant among UK doctors
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has accused the UK healthcare system of unnecessarily extending sickness absence by workers.
The CBI claims that a "sign-off" culture among UK doctors has boosted the cost of sickness absence borne by employers to £23 billion a year, and around 200 million lost working days a year. While the direct cost to business runs to over £11 billion-a-year, the CBI said that sick pay and welfare payments boosted this total to £23 billion.
In countering these figures, the CBI has called for greater use of private healthcare, arguing that this would make the health system more closely attuned to the needs of business.
With one in four employers failing to keep records of absence, businesses could also do more to speed up employees' return to work, the organisation said. (MB)
The CBI claims that a "sign-off" culture among UK doctors has boosted the cost of sickness absence borne by employers to £23 billion a year, and around 200 million lost working days a year. While the direct cost to business runs to over £11 billion-a-year, the CBI said that sick pay and welfare payments boosted this total to £23 billion.
In countering these figures, the CBI has called for greater use of private healthcare, arguing that this would make the health system more closely attuned to the needs of business.
With one in four employers failing to keep records of absence, businesses could also do more to speed up employees' return to work, the organisation said. (MB)
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