Employee Absence - The Costs

A report report, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) has found that the average level of employee absence has reduced to eight days per employee per year from 8.4 days on the previous year.

The ninth annual absence study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that the average cost is now £666 per employee, up from the 2007 figure of £659.The study also found that the public sector recorded the highest average of employee absenteeism, with 9.8 days per worker.

The main cause of short-term absence for both manual and non-manual workers is minor illness such as colds, flu and stomach upsets. Among manual workers the next main causes of short-term absence are back pain, musculoskeletal injuries, stress and home and family responsibilities. Besides minor illness, the major causes of short-term absence for non-manual workers are stress, musculoskeletal injuries, back pain and home and family responsibilities.