Workplace absence rates have increased for the first time in five years,
causing companies to lose an extra 10 million working days a year.
An annual survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and
insurance company Axa found that employers believe 25 million days were lost
last year through staff taking ‘sickies’. That accounts for 15 per cent of all
absence, at a cost of £1.75bn.
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Staff absence cost businesses £11.6bn last year in salary costs of absent
workers, the resulting overtime and temporary cover.
More than three-quarters of the 500 companies polled reported a pattern of
increased employee absence on Fridays or Mondays.
