Decline in sickness absence

There is a clear long-term trend towards reduced sickness absence. The TUC points out that sickness absence rates have been falling steadily over the past 15 years and this is confirmed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS): 131 million days were lost in 2013, a 27% drop from 178 million days in 1993.

The CBI also acknowledged this “downward trajectory” since the 1980s. However, in the 2013 Absence and workplace health survey it said: “Although the total direct cost of absence across the economy has been pushed down to £14 billion a year, this is still a major burden at a time when businesses need to be investing for growth and public sector budgets are under long-term pressure.”

The CIPD says the last five years have seen a “fluctuating downward trend” (except in manufacturing and production). In just one year (between 2013 and 2014) its figure for overall absence dropped from 7.6 days a year to 6.6 days, but a year earlier in 2012 it was 6.8 days.

So the figures can be expected to vary up and down, but the recession certainly seems to have had a short-term downward impact. Union reps should therefore look carefully at any management figures that highlight recent apparent increases in sickness absence since then.

www.cbi.org.uk/media/2150120/cbi-pfizer_absence___workplace_health_2013.pdf

www.wellworkingmatters.co.uk/images/cipd-absence-management-report-2014.pdf