Stress a major contributor to long-term absence
Nov 03 2011
Stress is among the most common causes of long-term absence
Stress-related ill health is the most common cause of long-term absence for almost one in six employers, research finds.
It is the second highest cause of absence behind home and family issues (20 per cent), and is ahead of acute medical conditions such as heart attacks or cancer, according to a study of 500 businesses by Group Risk Development (GRiD), the trade body for the group risk industry.
The problem of stress seems to be worse in the public sector, with 27 per cent of public sector employers citing this as their main cause of absence compared with 13 per cent in the private sector.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD says, ‘Stress is often overlooked as a cause of long-term absence from work, compared to acute medical conditions such as heart attack or cancer. These figures prove just how big a problem absence through stress is for employers, and provide a timely reminder for businesses to take action over what is often a preventable condition.
‘In times of increased economic pressure it is important for employers to consider firstly the wellbeing of their employees and what wider implications are suggested by high levels of stress or other mental illness, and secondly what provisions they have in place to ensure both the employee and the employer are adequately protected in case of long-term absence.’
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