Absence levels down
Jun 07 2010
Despite increasing levels of workplace-stress, absenteeism has hit an all-time low.
Staff absences are at the lowest in more than 20 years, with employees taking an average of 6.4 days off per year, according to a survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). This is down slightly from the 6.7 days in 2007.
However, so-called ‘sickies’ remain a problem, with HR staff at 241 public and private-sector organisations estimating that 15 per cent of sick days were not genuine, costing businesses £2.5 billion a year.
The body suggests that the total cost of staff absences to the economy was £16.8 billion in 2009. Katja Hall, CBI director of employment policy, says: ‘The rate of employee absence has come down, but it still costs the economy billions of pounds a year. If absence levels across the board could be reduced by 10 per cent, the economy would see annual savings of just under £1.7 billion.’
The survey finds that public sector employees take an average of 8.3 days off per year, compared with an average of 5.8 days in the private sector.
According to mental health charity Mind, 10 per cent of employees say they have sought support from their doctors and 7 per cent have started taking antidepressants for stress and mental health problems brought on by the recession.
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