Cost of Absence

Employee Absence is Costing the UK £29 Billion a Year

Employee Absence is Costing the UK £29 Billion a Year

Whilst this alarming statistic is a bitter pill to swallow, it is not all doom and gloom for UK organisations. A recent study from the CIPD shows there have been small signs of improvement in national employee absence levels, with the average decreasing across all sectors to 6.3 days per person – the lowest figure in 7 years. What has been driving this reduction? Collaboration. Organisations are taking a more of a collaborative approach between their HR and Occupational Health functions. Historically, OH has often been viewed as the last resort when managing…Read more

Employee absence is costing the UK £29 billion a year

Whilst this alarming statistic is a bitter pill to swallow, it is not all doom and gloom for UK organisations. A recent study from the CIPD shows there have been small signs of improvement in national employee absence levels, with the average decreasing across all sectors to 6.3 days per person – the lowest figure in 7 years. What has been driving this reduction? In short, better collaboration, understanding and monitoring. Collaboration. Organisations are taking a more collaborative approach between their HR and Occupational Health functions. Historically, OH has often been viewed as…Read more

5-a-day fruit and veg recommendation doubled

Eating a minimum of 10 portions a day of fruit and veg may give us longer lives, say researchers based on a recent study by Imperial College London and reported on the BBC.  Their findings indicated such eating habits could prevent 7.8 million premature deaths each year and that specific fruit and veg can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.  Their conclusions were made by pooling data on 95 separate studies, involving two million people's eating habits and were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. How much do we need?…Read more

Vitamin D pills ‘could stop colds or flu’ says new research

It has long been thought that Vitamin D,  which is made naturally by people's bodies if they get plenty of sunlight (hence its label the ‘sunshine vitami’) is vital for healthy bones.  Now, it is thought that it also has a key role to play in boosting the immune system. The immune system uses vitamin D to make antimicrobial weapons that puncture holes in bacteria and viruses, but as vitamin D is made in the skin while out in the sun, many people have low levels during winter. The QMUL Study To date,…Read more

How to recognise if staff members are depressed

Statistically, one in four people will have problems with their mental health at some time in their lives. Difficult events and experiences can leave people in low spirits, or cause depression. It could be in their personal lives - relationship problems, bereavement, sleep problems, loneliness or chronic illness or pain.  Or, if can often be the result of stress, or bullying at work.  Either way, depressed staff can impact on workplace health and increase the cost of sickness absence. Occupational health experts, Medigold, have put together this guide for employers on how to…Read more

Working in the sun – how to avoid sunburn

Sunburn can be very painful and can lead to staff sickness and absence  so it is well worth employers educating staff, particularly for those working outside. To help, leading occupational health providers, Medigold, have come up with the following handy points to remember to do and things to beware of when working in the sun. Do Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm where possible If you work outdoors, make sure you spend your breaks in the shade Allow for reflection – up to 85% of UV rays can be reflected…Read more

4 Prevalent myths about flu and the cost of sickness

As the colder weather sets in, the likelihood of catching flu is set to increase. However, misconceptions about the virus can be misleading and may even put people at risk of contracting the illness. The four most common myths about flu are that: Healthy people don’t get flu. The truth is, anyone can catch flu. The NHS estimates that up to 20% of the population contracts flu every year, healthy people included. The side-effects of the flu vaccination are really bad. For the most part, side-effects of the seasonal flu vaccination are mild or even…Read more

Everything you need to know about pressure in the workplace

Stress is one of the major contributors to the cost of sickness absence for businesses. It occurs when high levels of pressure make staff feel unable to cope. So, it’s important that business owners are able to strike a balance between healthy pressure (which can actually drive performance) and stress which can take its toll on the body and mind, as well as hampering productivity. Did you know…? People who are more physically active cope better with pressure? Your energy levels dictate not only what you are able to do, but how well…Read more

What causes productivity drain and how to avoid it

Our energy levels dictate not only what we can do, but how well we do it. If energy levels are low, productivity within and beyond the workplace drops significantly. Recent research from Cambridge University and Rand Europe involving 21,000 employees from across the UK showed that 12 major factors are contributing to a loss of productivity through presenteeism and absenteeism. Top 12 causes According to the survey, the 12 top causes of productivity drain are, in rank order: Having financial concerns Sleeping less than seven hours per night Being underweight Being overweight Physical…Read more

More than 25% of diets fail due to unhealthy snacking at work

A recent survey focusing on British eating habits at work has found that more than 25% of diets fail because of unhealthy snacking in the workplace. The top three unhealthy snacks were found to be biscuits, chocolate and crisps. Healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low fat yoghurt and crackers lagged far behind. The Fruyo research showed that a third of all snacking occurs at people’s desks. In addition, 8% of people admitted to snacking in secret while at work, either behind their computer screens or in the toilets. Boredom appeared to be…Read more
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