The Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) latest report into Sickness Absence in the Labour Market shows that although 137.3 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2016 (at an equivalent rate of 4.3 days per worker) this is the lowest since comparable records began in 1993 (when the rate was at 7.2 days per worker). In fact, there has been a general decline in sickness absence since 2003, not surprisingly most notably during the economic downtown.
Unsurprisingly, the most common reason for sickness absence last year were coughs, colds and other minor illnesses, accounting for about a quarter of the total days lost. Other common reasons include musculoskeletal problems (such as back pain, neck pain and upper limb problems) and mental health issues which we have previously discussed being an increasing issue for both employees and employers.
What is the likelihood of being absent from work due to sickness or injury?
The likelihood of an individual being absent from work due to sickness or injury varies according to different factors such as age, sex, sector and seniority. Here are a few stats for you – the “odds” of reporting sickness absence in 2016 were:
It's not just sickness that causes employees to be absent from work, it could also be other attendance discipline issues such as lateness and poor time keeping. Whatever the reason, you need to make sure you keep a tight hold on managing absence in your business.
Even though the levels of sickness absence are declining, at 137 million days a year, that's a lot of lost revenue. Are you worried about sickness absence in your organisation? Is it a Health & Safety issue, or something to do with employee morale? Contact Park City's experts today - we'll help you diagnose and remedy your workplace sickness in no time at all.
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