28 May 2004
The CBI claimed this week that workplace absence for illness is 2% higher in the public sector than in the private sector.
Its annual survey of 530 organisations, carried out with insurer Axa, says that 25 million days were lost to 'non-genuine sickness', costing £1.75bn last year alone.
Public sector staff take an average of two more days off sick than their private sector counterparts. Public sector absence averaged 8.9 days a year and cost £566 per employee, the CBI says, compared with 6.9 days at £450 per private employee.
The figures suggest that the public sector accounts for 29% of total UK employment, but absences were 36% of total days lost — 64 million days out of 176 million.
Taxpayers would be saved £1bn if public sector absence was brought in line with the private average, says the CBI, adding that, overall, public sector absence cost £4bn last year.
CBI deputy director general John Cridland said: 'Unwarranted long weekends and staff “pulling sickies” are taking their toll on the UK's ability to absorb the enormous cost of absence.'
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