UK low sickness absence rates CBI survey
09/05/05
The TUC amongst other bodies has pointed out that the any serious analysis of the CBI's Annual Absence survey (published today) shows UK workers are generally unwilling to take time off due to illness.
The report demonstrates that public sector workers are less likely to take short periods off work ill than their colleagues in the private sector.
The average figure for public sector workers is higher only because more public sector workers are required take long term sick leave, much of which will have been caused by injuries on duty. This is not surprising given the dangerous and stressful nature of public sector jobs like police, firefighting and nursing.
Public sector long term sickness figures will also be boosted by the fairer deal that workers in the public sector get when they are injured or become seriously ill, while too many private sector staff will be returning too early under threat of dismissal.
Across Europe UK workers are less likely to take short-term sick leave than workers in any European country except Denmark. Only Austria, Germany and Ireland lose less working time due to long-term absence.
A TUC poll showed that 75 per cent of workers have struggled into work when they are ill, mainly because they do not want to let their colleagues down.
The correct conclusion to draw from all the figures is that British employers should be more grateful to their staff for working when they are ill, for taking less time off than their European colleagues and that private sector bosses should learn from the greater loyalty shown by public sector workers.
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