Stressed workers taking more sick days
July 7, 2004
According to a new report, workers are taking more days off sick with stress being a major factor.
A survey of 1,100 employers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that staff took an average of 9.12 days off sick last year. Welsh workers topped the national league for sickness absence with an average of 10.7 days a year, compared with 6.9 days in London.
The cost of sickness absence has increased from £567 per worker to £588 during the past year.
Minor illnesses such as colds and influenza were the most common cause of sickness absence, but most employers said stress was on the increase.
The CIPD said that heavy workloads, pressure to meet targets and management style were at the root of stress-related illnesses.
Ben Willmott, the report's author, said: "Although it is worrying to see stress-related absence on the increase it is encouraging that employers are taking action to address this".
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