Sickness Leave Rates Improving: New CBI Figures

The Lost Billions, the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual absence survey report, says firms paid £11.6bn in 2002 to cover the salaries of absent individuals and the resulting overtime and temporary cover, or an average cost of £476 per employee. The CBI says the number of working days lost fell by 5.7 per cent in this survey, from 176 million in 2001 to 166 million in 2002 - 6.8 days per employee or 2.9 per cent of total working time, the lowest figures recorded since the survey began in 1987.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director general, said: "Though employers believe most absence is caused by genuine minor sickness, there are serious concerns about the number of staff 'throwing sickies'. There are too many people who will happily spend the day off work at the expense of their employers and their hard working colleagues."
This document is for general guidance and research purposes only, and does not purport to give professional advice. Please check the date at the top of the article; the Workplace Law Network retains historic articles for general research.