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Tighter policies push absence levels down

The CIPD's latest annual survey points to a renewed downward trend in average absence, thanks to a tightening of employers' policies and changes in their methods of recording sick leave.

LEARNING POINTS

  • Average absence fell slightly to 3.7% in 2004/05, according to the CIPD's latest annual survey.
  • Short-term absence accounts for 60% of days lost in the typical organisation, although longer-term sick leave is a particular issue for large employers and those in the public sector.
  • Less than one-half of employers set absence targets - the most common being to cut absence to a specific proportion of working time, typically 3.5%.
  • Almost 40% of employers reported a rise in stress-related absence in 2004/05, and stress is the leading cause of non-manual workers' sick leave in almost one-half of public sector organisations.
  • The most important obstacle preventing employers from tackling work stress is the fact that it is not clearly defined and is difficult to identify.