Sickness Absence Management
The UK’s largest annual survey of sickness absence rates and costs shows that sickness absence was an average of 2.8% of working time per annum, or 6.5 days per employee, during 2014.
This costs employers an average of £16 billion or a median cost of £11 billion. XpertHR’s research findings are based on data provided by 670 organisations covering just under two million employees, making it the most current and largest survey of its type at this time.
These figures are typically considered a more accurate measure than the average (as the median reduces the influence of very high or low figures in the overall calculation).
The public sector has, traditionally, suffered from higher rates of sickness absence, compared with the private sector.
The trend continues with this year’s figures, with public-sector organisations experiencing a median of 3.5% of working time lost due to sickness absence – equivalent to 8.1 days per employee – while private-sector services organisations lost a median of 2.2% of working time, translating as 5.1 days per employee.
Occupational Health Support
There will be certain circumstances where you may need the help of occupational health services before your employee is able to return to work.
How Can Occupational Health Support A Return To Work?
Developing a return to work plan after returning to work after time off can be difficult. So once reasonable adjustments have been identified and you’ve all the advice that you need, here at Fit4workmeds we can begin to develop a Return to Work Plan.
It’s important to keep in touch with employees who are absent from work to help them stay motivated and return to work quicker.
You can keep in contact with absent employees by telephone, and you should make it clear that they’re expected to keep in touch with updates on their absence.
