Public Servant Lifestyle

Employers fear that staff 'pulling sickies' could have cost organisations £1.75bn last year alone, with many worrying that up to 15% of absence is not genuine.

The annual absence survey by the CBI employer organisation and AXA PPP healthcare shows the cost of overall workplace absence remains worryingly high, despite numbers of days lost falling to the lowest level for at least 15 years.

Worryingly Large Gap

The gap between public and private sector absence is worryingly large. Public sector absence averaged 8.9 days a year, and cost £637 per employee, significantly higher than private sector absence, which averaged 6.5 days and cost £466 per employee.

The survey shows employers paid £11.6bn in 2002 to cover the salaries of absent individuals and the resulting overtime and temporary cover. This translates to an average cost of £476 per employee. The overall figure is only fractionally lower than the previous year, when organisations paid £11.8bn.

The number of working days lost fell by 5.7%, from 176 million in 2001, to 166 million in 2002. That is 6.8 days per employee, or 2.9% of total working time, the lowest figures recorded since the survey began in 1987.

The CBI believes rising labour costs is the reason why the total cost of absence remains high despite falling absence levels.

"Though employers believe most absence is caused by genuine minor sickness, there are serious concerns about the number of staff 'throwing sickies'," says CBI deputy director-general John Cridland. "There are too many people who will happily spend the day off work at the expense of their employers and their hard working colleagues."

Absence has been falling since the survey began in 1987 as more find ways to cut absence levels and limit the financial impact.

Falling

The survey shows absence falling most significantly in organisations where senior managers are responsible for absence management. These organisations lose an average of five days per employee each year, compared with 7.6, where line managers have the responsibility. Return-to-work interviews were the most effective absence management tool.

John Cridland said: "Almost 19 million fewer days would be lost each year if firms with the worst absence rates could raise their performance to average levels. Firms can help reduce days lost by making senior managers responsible for absence management, but business also needs efficient health services so staff can recover quickly."

Manual workers have significantly higher absence rates than non-manual employees. Manual worker rates averaged 8.4 days per employee in 2002, compared with 5.5 days per employee for non-manual staff.

Larger organisations report higher absence levels than smaller ones. Those employing over 5,000 average 9.3 days per employee, while organisations with less than 50 staff average 4.9 days. The CBI believes smaller employers have lower absence rates because of more frequent senior management contact and greater peer pressure.

This survey has consistently shown no lasting link between absence and region. Last year absence was lowest in Greater London (5.4 days) and highest in Yorkshire and Humberside and the English West Midlands (7.8 days in each).

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