Its been called the new British disease, and doubtless many more derogatory names, but workplace absenteeism continues to inflict serious damage on the UK economy and businesses. Of course, the causes and effects of absenteeism are complex and there are no quick fix solutions. Yet ignoring the problem is likely to make the situation even worse.
So just how big is the problem? The recent CBI/Pfizers Absence and Workplace Health Survey found that absenteeism costs the country a staggering £14 billion per year. These startling findings are backed up by a further research study by business advisors PwC, which shows that sick days alone are costing British business almost £29billion a year, because UK workers are taking more than four times as many days off work as their counterparts across the globe.
It is estimated that one in eight sick days are taken for non-genuine reasons and that one in five employers believe that employees take sickies as an occasional perk. The public sector is particularly badly hit by absenteeism and the CBI/Pfizer report concludes that £1.2billion could be saved in this sector if absence levels were brought in line with the privates sector average.
Employee absence can account for between 20 and 40 percent of net lost productivity per day. Meanwhile two thirds of employers claim the latest fit note system is not being used to its full potential. The fit note sees doctors outline for employers what staff can actually do in work unlike the old sick note system which simply signed people off.
Other key findings from the CBI/Pfizer survey, which interviewed 153 public and private sector organisations, employing 850,000 workers, included: There is a gap of more than three days a year in average absence levels between the best performing quartile of organisations and the worst, Absence remains higher among manual employees than non-manual but the gap is narrowing over time, Mental health conditions are the single most widespread cause of long-term absence with 54 percent of employees citing non-work related stress, anxiety and depression as a cause of long term absence.
Of course there is no simple cure-all solution to this huge problem but in my organisations sphere, namely healthcare cash plans, our corporate clients are telling us that cash plans are helping to have a positive effect on reducing absenteeism.
Company-paid cash plans are surprisingly affordable. The plans free employees from the financial consequences of ill-health and allow them to reclaim money they spend on a range of health-related services, up to an annual limit. Employees are covered for optical charges, dental charges, chiropody, professional therapies, specialist consultations and tests, health screening and a whole host more.
With employees covered for common workplace conditions such as back problems, stress and anxiety, cash plans can make a real difference in the workplace. Stress-free, happier and healthier employees are good news for employers and can boost productivity and, at the same time reduce absenteeism. Its a benefit employees really value and a low-cost way to help retain key staff. The cash plan provider handles all the administration and claims direct, freeing clients to get on with their business. There is also available a voluntary, employee paid healthcare benefits plan.
An employee healthcare cash plan on its own, is not going to solve workplace absenteeism in its entirety. I am happy however to go on record as saying it is a low cost, yet extremely powerful weapon in the fight against this crippling problem and offers so many other benefits to employers and employees alike.
More information at www.paycare.org