Post on 01-Nov-2014
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On the path to recovery?: CBI/Pfizer absence and workplace health survey 2010
Katja Hall
Director of Employment Policy,
CBI
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Downward trend in days absence
● The average days absence was 6.4 days in 2009, down from 6.7 days in 2007
● Indicates that 180 million working days were lost
● Absence remains the highest amongst manual workers and in large organisations
● Absence was on average 2.5 days higher in the public sector
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The cost of absence
● The average cost of absence was £595 per employee in 2009
● Loss of productivity is seen as the single most important cost of employee absence
● Employee absence cost the UK economy £16.8bn
● Average costs varied amongst sectors and were highest in the public sector
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Drivers of absence
● Minor illness accounts for most absence from work
● Short term absence accounts for more than 9 in 10 of all absence spells
● Back pain and non-work related stress were key drivers on long-term absence
● While long-term absence accounts for less than one in ten of all spells of absence, it accounts for more than a fifth of all working time lost.
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Non-genuine sickness
● Employers estimate that 15% of absence in their organisation is non-genuine
● This equates to 27 million working days lost, at a cost of £2.5bn to UK economy
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Absence management policies: what works?
● Proactive employee health and wellbeing policies and practices are now widespread
● Employers believe the role of line manger is crucial
● Improving GP understanding of workplace health is a priority
● Employers welcome the new fit note
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Employee health and wellbeing
● Three quarters of employers operate a wellbeing policy
● Business case for employee health and wellbeing policies is seen in its positive impact on employee attendance
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Summary
● Fall in the average number of days absence
● Still a significant cost to the UK economy
● Employers taking a proactive approach to absence management
● Rise in number of employers investing in the health and wellbeing of their employees