A story in industry newspaper Financial Adviser has covered a report in the British Medical Journal, 176 million working days were lost through sickness in 2003. The report showed that the stress of modern living has overtaken physical health problems as the main cause of long-term sickness in Britain.
Absence claims for back pain have fallen by 42 per cent since 1994, and the survey claims that there are now double the number of people claiming for stress caused, or made worse by work.
Only one in five people, who claim incapacity benefit for at least six months, return to work within five years.
The cost to the economy is estimated to be £11 billion each year.
Our view
It is a sad indictment that so many sick days are lost. Many are genuine but there are also many that are not.
Think now. If you were unable to work for a longer period, how would you survive financially.