Cost of Absence

A survey conducted by the CBI and published in 2008 estimates that absence from work cost the UK economy some £13.2 billion in 2007 and the average employee took 6.7 days off sick. This equates to a direct cost of £517 per employee and indirect costs such as reduced customer satisfaction are estimated to add another £263 per employee per year.

Other known facts about absence are:

• The longer an employee is absent from work, the lower the probability of a return to work. (Robinson et al. - 1997)
• Belief in own dysfunction is a significant factor in duration of absence; this tends to worsen over time. (Pearson - 2001)
• Early intervention results in significant reduction in medical practitioner visits and shorter work absences. (Zigenfus et al. - 2000)
• After 5 weeks absence, there is a significant impact on workability. After 6 months absence there is only a 50% likelihood that the employee will return to work. (CIPD - 2003)
• After 12 months this falls to 25% and after 2 years the chance is almost zero. (British Society for Rehabilitation Medicine 2001; Faculty of Occupational Medicine - 2000).

Despite this well researched area most Occupational Health Services still focus on providing nurse or physician advice about absence without any co-ordinated intervention to resolve it and advice only starts to be provided after the absence has lasted for several weeks by which time negative beliefs have already started to flourish and the likelihood of a successful rehabilitation back to work, diminish.