Effective absence management is not just about getting people who are off sick well again, but about employers having policies to ensure people are not falling sick in the first place, CIPD chief economist John Philpott (left) has suggested.
He said getting those on long-term sick leave, and sometimes even those on incapacity benefit, back to work is one of the biggest challenges facing employers and the Government. “It is very important given that the long-term sick are a big loss to the economy and industry,” he said.
Long-term illness had to be linked to rehabilitation, particularly in giving former employees the opportunity to come back into work.
Within this debate, the role of OH needed to be given more prominence, he argued.
“Prevention is far easier than cure. The health of people in their jobs ultimately is something that needs to be taking centre stage,” concluded Philpott.
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