The Cost of Absence from Work (July 2010)

You may be aware that British workers take a total of 35 million days 'off sick' a year but what is even more shocking is that figure is more than a quarter of the total days off taken across Europe according to a recent survey by Peter Abelskamp, director of health and benefits for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Aon Consulting.

The survey also highlighted that 1 in 5 employees confessed the last time they took a day 'off sick' it was for personal reasons and not due to illness. The study said that UK workers were 4 times as likely to take time off work unnecessarily compared to Europe's most 'honest' workers in Denmark!

In fact, the true number of UK workers feigning sickness is likely to be higher as many people would not own up to the deception.

The CBI has estimated that sick days cost the UK economy £2.5 billion a year. This rate of lost output makes it vital that employers have a robust and accurate leave and absence management system in place so they are equipped to tackle the issues of sickness and absence.

Contact us to find out how a tailored employee benefits package can motivate staff and potentially reduce the cost of days lost to absence.

Cartlidge Morland is an independent employee benefits consultancy. We provide benefit services to a wide range of partnerships, family companies, PLCs, charities and governmental organisations. We also provide financial advice to private clients, investment management and mortgage broking services

Phone us on 020 7709 5560 or complete the online contact form