Cost of work absence days

Sickness absence cost the economy £666 per employee in 2007, up from £659 the previous year, figures from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggest.

The organisation's annual Absence Management report found that the average level of employee absence has reduced slightly from 8.4 days to eight days. However, the CIPD said that with rising wages taken into account, the total cost of absence is higher.

In particular, it found that sickness absence in the public sector cost £906 per employee, up from £732 the previous year. The number of days of sickness absence in the public sector is 9.8 days, compared with 7.4 days in the private sector.

Bosses estimated that 12% of absences are "sickies", with many workers absent on Mondays and Fridays.

CIPD figures of £19,6bn cost for staff absence are shocking.

The main causes of short-term absence were stomach upsets, flu and colds. However, in the public sector stress was listed as the main reason for workers taking time off. Most private medical insurerance providers do have a 24hr counselling helpline. This is thus a good reason for employers to consider offering such a benefit to help reduce stress at the workplace.

The highest levels of absenteeism were in the North East, where the average member of staff is absent for 11.3 days a year.

Some of this article from CIPD Research

Date: 10/09/2008
Category: BUSINESS ADVERTORIAL