Sickness Levels Fall Yet SMEs Fail to Tackle Absenteeism
Businesses which tackle the sick-note culture head on by training managers are proving that the investment pays for itself through falling absenteeism – but SMEs are still failing follow suit. Two thirds of businesses which set tough targets and managed absenteeism are now able to reduce their overall sick leave, compared with half in 2007 (See the EEF/Westfield Health report Sickness Absence and Rehabilitation Survey 2011) As a result, overall sick leave has fallen from 6.7 days – on average – per person per year in 2007, to just 5 days today. But experts believe these benefits are only being enjoyed by large companies, with as many as two thirds (66%) of SMEs still failing to recognise or tackle poor sickness absence rates (CIPD Annual survey report 2010 – Absence Management (PDF))... »