Sickness affects businesses

A new report has revealed that absence through illness can have a major financial impact upon companies.

Citing figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Costofabsence.com - part of BUPA UK Health Insurance - stated that the paper and printing industry is likely to be the worst affected by such absences.

The firm noted that a paper and printing business with 100 members of staff is estimated to have faced a 125,000 annual bill because of sickness, representing a 172 per cent increase on the figure paid during the previous year.

Ann Greenwood, director of business markets for BUPA, said: Businesses need to understand the impact that sickness absence can have on them, in terms of their performance, productivity and efficiency, as well as the effect it will have on their employees.

ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg says that sickness has to be accepted as a business overhead, but warns that different factors can trigger absenteeism.

It is well known he says, that public sector staff pull more 'sickies' than the private sector. Why? Well-motivated and happy employees are less likely to call in sick.

Private sector employees are often seeing themselves as valuable contributors and determined to get to work at any price.

The cost of absenteeism equates directly to the effort a company makes to provide an inspirational working environment, he says.

To reduce sick days, do an all-out 'health' audit of the working environment, factoring in mental and intellectual issues as well as the physical.

Mr Traberg continues, Clearly if someone's down with flu, there's a downside to dragging themselves into work.

The cure is easy though - a massive dose of mutual respect. When trust is two- way, allowing staff to work from home linked in by computer is never a problem.

We don't generally encourage it because people need the stimulation of networking face-to-face, he says.

But committed people NEED to contribute, and being linked to the office demonstrates responsibility without infecting the rest of the team.