Sick Days Cost GBP13bn

Sick Days Cost £13bn

A survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Axa reveals absenteeism cost the economy £13.2bn last year.  The survey showed the average employee took around seven sick days a year, with workers in the public sector taking an average on nine a year and employees in the private sector taking around 5.8 days.  The survey also indicated that 12 per cent of sick days were being used as extended weekends or for special occasions.

The report said a certain level of absenteeism could be managed or reduced by offering employees benefits such as health support and flexible working hours.  

Our view

Sick days make us sick! Short term sickness is common as we are all ill from time to time.  The problem is where there is an unhappy workforce or an easy sickness regime.  You only have to look at the rates of sickness in Local and central government organisations to find the culprits.

We believe that Doctors should be required to give a full and valid explanation to employers as to why they issued a sick-note.  They are issued all too easily.

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