Sickness absence: the facts

The following somewhat questionable reasons were all genuinely submitted by employees as explanations for their sickness absence:

  • I Super Glued my hand to the dressing table.

  • I was attacked by a squirrel on my way to work.

  • Breast augmentation.

  • My trousers rubbed against my legs and chafed my thighs.

  • I broke up with my boyfriend.

  • My cat was sick.

  • Leprosy (changed to 'flaky skin' on further questioning).

  • Boil on the nether regions.

  • Stuck in the bath.

  • TTFW (too tired for work…..?).

    However, while in many cases the audacity of the individuals concerned may raise a smile, the rate of sickness absence in the UK is no laughing matter.

    Average sickness absence

    Recent surveys differ in their estimates of average sickness absence per employee. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) believes that employees take 10 days' sickness absence per year, whereas the CBI/PPP Survey 2002 puts the figure at nearer to 7.1 days per employee.

    However, what the surveys do agree on is that:

  • manual workers take more sickness absence than non-manual workers;

  • larger organisations and public sector bodies experience higher rates of sickness absence than smaller organisations and private companies;

  • the average cost of sickness absence per employee is rising (£476 per annum according to the CBI/PPP survey);

  • 16% of an employer's pay bill is spent on managing sickness absence;

  • over 2 million working days are lost every week to sickness.

    Reasons for sickness absence

    According to a survey by the Work Foundation, the top five reasons for sickness absence given by employees are as follows:

  • colds/flu;

  • food poisoning/stomach upset;

  • headaches/migraines;

  • stress/emotional/personal problems;

  • back problems.

    However, a survey of employers found that most managers feel that the real reasons for absence are actually quite different, as follows:

  • colds/flu;

  • stress/emotional/personal problems;

  • Monday morning blues/extending the weekend;

  • illness of a family member/childcare problems;

  • using up sick leave 'entitlement';

  • low morale/boring job.

    While sickness absence is evidently costing British industry significant sums of money, according to the CIPD, one fifth of employers do not record the reasons given by employees for it. If the adage 'you cannot manage what you cannot measure' is to be believed, this would indicate that these employers are not currently tackling sickness absence in their organisation.

    Next week's article looks at practical steps for employers to take in order to try to reduce the number of sick days taken by employees.

    Susan Loughe, HR consultant, 020 7919 0586, susanloughe@eversheds.com
    Nicola Peedle, HR consultant, 020 7919 4871, nicolapeedle@eversheds.com
    Further information on Eversheds can be accessed at www.eversheds.com