UK Businesses donít have plans to tackle absenteeism

More than two out of five UK businesses do not have strategies in place to tackle staff absenteeism according to research from The Benenden Healthcare Society, a provider of affordable quality healthcare services. Despite the potential impact on productivity and profit from not addressing the issue, it found 43* per cent of firms with annual turnovers of more than 1 million do not have a strategy for combating absence.

It is estimated the average UK worker takes around eight days** off sick a year and yet research from Benenden Healthcare shows many businesses are not taking action to help staff reduce the number of days off they take.

However according to the research, companies say staff wellbeing is high on their agendas and nearly half of the firms surveyed said it was among their top priorities.

However bosses believe staff themselves donít place as high an importance on wellbeing compared with issues such as salaries, pensions and other parts of the employee package. Just one in five companies believed staff would place wellbeing the highest of their priorities compared with other parts of their employment package.

Smaller companies are most at risk, the research reveals, with 71% of companies employing 25 people or fewer having no plan for tackling absenteeism. And it is companies in the south of England that are less likely to have a strategy to tackle absenteeism. Just 37% of businesses in the south said they did, compared with 65% in the Midlands and 78% in the north.

Jakki Stubbington, Benenden Healthcare said: ìIt is estimated that employees take an average of eight days sick every year. Absence can have a major impact on a business and have a negative effect on their bottom line. It is essential that they look at how this absence can be managed so they can minimise the consequences. It is worrying to see that so many businesses in the UK do not have a plan to address the problem.î

For those companies that do have a strategy to address employee sickness, 74% said they offered flexible working arrangements in order to improve the work/life balance of staff. This was followed by seven in 10 companies that offered private medical insurance. Other offers include healthcare advice, healthy eating advice and supplying healthy food in the staff canteen and offices.

Tool to address staff absence
Flexible working arrangement
Private medical insurance
Healthcare advice
Healthy eating advice
Healthy food in staff canteen/offices
None of these

Percentage of companies that offer this
74%
70%
29%
26%
18%
8%

Jakki Stubbington continues: ìBy offering some sort of healthcare provision or even educating staff on how to live more healthily, companies could reduce the number of absences relating to sickness each year.î

ìPerhaps the fact that companies do not believe employees place a high priority on wellbeing as part of the employment package helps explain the lack of planning for tackling absenteeism. Companies could take action and it need not cost a lot.î

Around 55 per cent of companies surveyed said they do have strategies to tackle staff absenteeism with the proportion increasing depending on the size of the annual turnover. Around 90% of companies with turnovers of more than 20 million said they tackle the absenteeism problem.

Benenden Healthcare, which last year celebrated its centenary year , offers membership to teachers and education workers, Post Office staff, civil servants, BT and local government authoritiesí employees, charity workers and their families. Membership costs just 1.10 per week. Additionally, organisations operating in these areas can join Benendenís corporate plan and offer healthcare as a benefit to staff for just 57.20 per person, per year.

The Society can provide the following benefits:

Diagnostic consultations

With a local NHS registered consultant, up to 450 for diagnostic tests and a follow-up consultation if required.

Physiotherapy
Contributions towards the cost of physiotherapy.
Medical treatment and surgery

Last year, members received medical treatment for:

o Tuberculosis
o chest conditions such as asthma and obstructive airways disease
o hypertension
o ischaemic heart disease
o neuritis (inflammation of the nerves)
o skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema

A wide range of surgical procedures is available at The Societyís own Benenden Hospital or selected regional surgical centres, including cataracts, varicose veins, hernias, tonsils, adenoids, bowel problems, prostate problems, gallstones, sinuses and gynaecological problems

Cancer care support
Supplementary support to complement the NHS and social services departments.

Health Concern Advice Line
Provides information about organisations and helplines that can provide support, care or expert advice on different healthcare issues.

24-hour GP Telephone Consultation Line
Allows members access to a doctor outside normal surgery hours all-year round. Members can make unlimited calls and there is no limit on consultation times.

Long-term care advisory service
Funds assistance in finding suitable long-term care arrangements for members and their relatives

Discounts at Health Clubs and on Health Screening
Discounted access to a wide range of sports and health clubs and quality health screening is available to all members

To find out more about joining the Benenden Healthcare Society call: 0845 052 5731, or see www.benenden.org.uk