"Sickies" cost the economy

Workplace absence cost the economy £12.2bn in 2004 - with concern that £1.7bn of that cost is due to staff "pulling sickies" rather than absence resulting from genuine ill health - according to a new survey of businesses.

The latest annual CBI-AXA Absence Survey, published yesterday, shows that absence cost £495 per employee in 2004. This figure represents the cost of covering salaries for absent staff, the resulting overtime and temporary cover, and lost service... (302 more words)

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