Category: Health and Safety for Contractors

Firms have been advised to have thorough absence policies in place in order to discourage non-genuine absences.

Return-to-work interviews, collecting absence data and thorough training should be used, suggested Sue Hayday, senior research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies.

"Most importantly, ensuring that line managers are trained and able to manage the attendance of their staff will … be effective," she commented.

Ms Hayday also recommended that non-genuine absence due to domestic responsibilities or problems be tackled by flexible working arrangements, such as being able to work from home or alter starting or finishing times.

According to figures from the CBI, UK workers took an average six-and-a-half days off sick last year, at a cost to the nation of £16.8 billion.

Up to 15 per cent were not genuine, the survey suggested, meaning the cost to businesses could be slashed.

"Bogus sick days remain a problem, and are unfair on hard-working colleagues and employers alike," commented Katja Hall, the CBI's director of employment policy.

Posted by John Crawley