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Public transport users can miss up to five work days per month

Feb 21 2008

Employees using public transport are on average late for work by 36 minutes once a week according to a new report, with some saying they miss up to five days.

Over a quarter of a million workers claim delays cause them to miss at least one full work day each month. According to the research, commissioned by Abbey, public transport problems are costing businesses £212 million a month.

The full impact of public transport delays on total amount of work done is not usually taken into account, says Ian Wilson, managing director of Abbey's Business Banking.

The 'burden' caused by a missing colleague is greatest on small businesses, he claims.

'So the onus really is on the individual to build in enough time not to leave colleagues and bosses in the lurch,' he adds.

Work days are not just lost to lateness though. Yesterday, health secretary Alan Johnson said Britain had a sick-note culture, costing the country's businesses 175 million working days and £13 billion per year, says the BBC.

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