Staff absence falls but cost increases

The total number of days lost through sickness absence dropped by 4 million to 164 million days last year, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has reported.

However, although this is the lowest level since the CBI/AXA absence survey was first published in 1987, the report also said that the cost of staff absence to the UK economy rose to over £13 billion in 2005.

The latest survey also revealed that absence levels were 30% higher across public sector organisations than in the private sector.

Based on the current rate of change in the public sector - from 8.9 days in 2002 to 8.5 days in this year's survey - it would take 30 years for it to reduce its absence rates to the average 6 days lost per employee in the private sector, the survey said.

According to the survey, Yorkshire and Humber topped the table for the region with the most absences (8.9 days per employee), while Northern Ireland had the lowest (4.7 days).

The survey suggested that a 'culture of absenteeism' still exists in too many workplaces. As many as 13% of days lost to sickness in 2005 were considered to be staff 'pulling sickies' by employers, at a cost to the economy of £1.2 billion.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of employers believed that unauthorised absence could be linked to Mondays and Fridays, while 64% thought staff could be taking unauthorised extensions to holidays.

Forty per cent also considered special events, such as the World Cup, to be a likely cause of unwarranted absence.

CBI Deputy Director-General John Cridland said: "Employers live in the real world and recognise that the majority of absence is due to genuine, minor illnesses. Nobody wants staff to drag themselves into work when they are genuinely ill. But there is clearly concern that a culture of absenteeism still exists in some workplaces and this must change."

However, the survey also revealed that managers may not be using the most effective policies to manage absence. The policies that had the most impact were waiting a period of days before paying sick pay, offering bonuses for good attendance and providing early access to medical care through private medical insurance.

The TUC said that the report "smashes the myth that Britain is a nation of shirkers". TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "In fact, the reverse is true and many people still struggle into work when they are far too ill to do so.

(KMcA)