Tighter management and more occupational health investment drives absence down – CBI report

Jul 07, 2010

Keeping a closer eye on sick days and investing more in occupational health were the top two reasons given by British bosses for the gradual drop in staff absence levels, says a major new report.

But, despite the fall, there is still a long way to go to get to grips with a problem that costs UK business a crippling £17 billion a year, according to the survey by the industry body, the CBI.

The study showed that between 2007 and 2009, the average number of days lost per worker each year dropped from 6.7 to 6.4. But the document also revealed that a massive 180 million working days were lost through absence during 2009 and that the actual cost of absence per employee has risen by 12%.

The CBI/Pfizer ‘Absence and Workplace Health Survey’ also highlighted a major gap in absence rates between the best performing and worst performing employers.

Workers employed by the top performers only lost 2.1 days a year on average, while employees of firms at the other end of the scale were losing five times that figure. The average cost per absentee was £1,060, including sick pay, lost productivity and the expense of providing cover.

The good news from the new report was that it confirmed a continuation of the gradual decline in absence rates recorded over the past 25 years.

Statistics indicated that those employers who are getting the problem under control attributed their progress to a more proactive approach to absence management and increased investment in occupational health services.

When asked which policies and practices they felt were most effective in reducing absence rates, 80% of employers mentioned closer monitoring and management of absence and 36% pointed to greater investment in occupational health. These were the top two factors given.

Other reasons suggested for the improvement were greater awareness of employee health and wellbeing – 22% - and healthier lifestyles among workers – 21%.

Responses from employers also showed that more firms are now using structured rehabilitation plans to help staff with long-term illnesses get back to work. Long-term conditions account for one in five of all days lost.

Lesley Tomlinson, director of Connaught Compliance’s occupational health division welcomed the continued decline in absenteeism, although she expressed alarm at the continuing size of the problem.

“Clearly this is a huge drain on British firms, particularly at a time when they can least afford it. It’s particularly noteworthy that the actual cost of absence per employee has risen. It’s vital that employers accelerate the pace of improvement. The successes of the better performing organisations show that carefully planned intervention can have a very beneficial effect,” she said.

She added: “Our own experience demonstrates clearly that absence monitoring and management strategies do make a positive difference as do structured employee assistance programmes and wellbeing initiatives.”

The CBI/Pfizer report showed that a majority of employers now offer staff wellbeing support including occupational health services, personal counselling on issues such as stress and lifestyle, and rehabilitation support for long-term absentees.

More than three quarters of bosses in the survey backed the new ‘fit note’ approach under which doctors are supposed to focus on what work patients are able to do rather than what they can’t do. However many employers were sceptical that doctors would genuinely follow this new practice.

Said Lesley Tomlinson: “Occupational health professionals are very well qualified to establish what duties an individual worker with illness, injury or disability can actually perform. It is interesting to note, therefore, that a majority of employers in the survey want to see greater working partnerships between GPs and occupational health professionals.”

To ensure you comply with the legal requirements for a safe working environment, Connaught provides a full range of occupational health assessment services (including drug and alcohol testing) to identify risk, improve safety and protect productivity. Further details can be found at: http://www.connaughtoccupationalhealth.co.uk/ . 

To recieve a copy of the CBI report click here