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Sickness absence in the manufacturing sector has declined over the last three years, new research shows.

The average employee took five days off work due to ill health in 2010, compared to 6.7 days in 2007, according to the EEF/Westfield Health 2011 Sickness Absence Survey of 454 manufacturing companies.

Some 45 per cent of employees did not take any time off work through sickness during 2010, following year on year improvements over the last five years.

Jill Davies, chief executive of health insurance provider Westfield Health, says, ‘The workforce is an employer’s most valuable asset and the falling sickness absence rates show that the right steps are being taken to continue this positive trend – but there is still plenty to be done.’

The study showed that companies reporting an increase in long-term sickness absence declined from 39 per cent in 2007 to 32 per cent in 2010.

The proportion of businesses reporting an increase in short-term absence due to illness is also down from 25 per cent in 2007, to 15 per cent last year.

Jim Davison, region director for EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, in the South and East, adds, ‘In particular, it is striking that the companies who have proactively contacted their GPs to discuss adjusting people’s working arrangements have seen the highest level of response.’

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