Employee sickness can be the scourge of businesses, small and large. When staff members are off ill for extended periods of time it can put huge pressure on the remaining staff and also have financial implications if alternative staffing arrangements are required.
A study by VitalityHealth, Mercer, the University of Cambridge and RAND Europe has claimed that work related stress could cost the UK economy up to £57bn each year which equates to nearly a month of productive work lost per employee.
The study found that, on average, workplace stress causes businesses to lose 24 days of productive time per employee which can go up to 27 certain industries. The industries that fared best with the lowest days off for stress were the high tech industries which lose 19 days productivity. Interestingly the employees interviewed in this sector also had the highest physical activity levels outside of work which may explain the lower stress levels.
Managing staff absence can be a minefield. It is important for companies to look after their workforce and ensure they are happy and being effective in their roles but when frequent absence becomes a problem it is important to have policies in place that are fair to both parties. At Thorneycroft Solicitors we have specialist HR/Employment consultants who can advise you on any potential issue regarding staff absences.
You can either use Thorneycroft Solicitors on an ‘as and when’ basis or you can use the ‘Employment Shield’ service which is an annual retainer allowing you access to employment experts any time you need and have a dedicated solicitor to look after your companies legal needs.
For further details contact Mark Bestley on 01625 507506 or 07825 081 856 or email [email protected]
