Employers say sickness absence up

The UK economy lost 190 million working days to absence last year as each employee had an average of 6.5 days off sick, said the Confederation of British Industry.

The rate of absence last year was marginally higher than in 2009, when employees averaged 6.4 sick days, the lowest rate since the survey began in 1987.

The 190 million days cost employers £17bn, including over £2.7bn from 30.4 million days of non-genuine sickness absence – “sickies” – said the business group.

Despite strong support for the fit note initiative, employers said they were disappointed by their experience so far, with two-thirds believing it had not yet helped their rehabilitation policy, and 71 per cent not confident that GPs were using the fit note differently from the old sick note system.