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21/06/2002
Absenteeism at work remains a 'significant' cost burden
England may be out of the World Cup, but when the team played Argentina, it was estimated that absenteeism at work cost the English economy £1.3 billion.
Yet according to a report in the latest edition of First Trust Bank’s Economic Outlook and Business Review (EOBR), absenteeism is not just a problem faced by employers once every four years.
Writing in the current edition of the EOBR, Jenny Irwin of KPMG Consulting says that one third of absences from work do not relate to ill health and are a ‘significant’ cost burden to businesses.
“Last year the CBI calculated that the average direct cost to employers was approximately £434 per employee, a cost to UK businesses of £10.7 billion,” Ms Irwin said.
The average number of days lost per employee ranges from 7.8 to 8.7 days a year, but these figures vary across business sectors and employees. For example, absence is lowest among professional services and smaller organisations.
“Typically, absence rates are higher in the public sector than the private sector,” Ms Irwin explained. “Although employers recognise absenteeism as a significant cost burden, less then half of UK employers, surveyed by the CBI, monitor absence related costs.”
On average Northern Ireland businesses lose 4.9% of working time per year for manual workers and 2.8% for non-manual workers.
“Manual time lost here actually represents the second highest regional percentage in the UK after Greater London,” Ms Irwin said.
In contrast Pat Delaney, Director of the Small Firms Association, commenting on absenteeism in the Republic, said that during Ireland’s World Cup matches absenteeism had been less than half of a percent of the workforce which he said was a “huge victory for pragmatism.”
The report on absenteeism is just one of a series of in-depth reports, economic analysis and reviews by leading commentators and businesspeople contained in the June edition of the First Trust Bank’s Economic Outlook and Business Review.
(SP)
Yet according to a report in the latest edition of First Trust Bank’s Economic Outlook and Business Review (EOBR), absenteeism is not just a problem faced by employers once every four years.
Writing in the current edition of the EOBR, Jenny Irwin of KPMG Consulting says that one third of absences from work do not relate to ill health and are a ‘significant’ cost burden to businesses.
“Last year the CBI calculated that the average direct cost to employers was approximately £434 per employee, a cost to UK businesses of £10.7 billion,” Ms Irwin said.
The average number of days lost per employee ranges from 7.8 to 8.7 days a year, but these figures vary across business sectors and employees. For example, absence is lowest among professional services and smaller organisations.
“Typically, absence rates are higher in the public sector than the private sector,” Ms Irwin explained. “Although employers recognise absenteeism as a significant cost burden, less then half of UK employers, surveyed by the CBI, monitor absence related costs.”
On average Northern Ireland businesses lose 4.9% of working time per year for manual workers and 2.8% for non-manual workers.
“Manual time lost here actually represents the second highest regional percentage in the UK after Greater London,” Ms Irwin said.
In contrast Pat Delaney, Director of the Small Firms Association, commenting on absenteeism in the Republic, said that during Ireland’s World Cup matches absenteeism had been less than half of a percent of the workforce which he said was a “huge victory for pragmatism.”
The report on absenteeism is just one of a series of in-depth reports, economic analysis and reviews by leading commentators and businesspeople contained in the June edition of the First Trust Bank’s Economic Outlook and Business Review.
(SP)
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12 June 2002
Northern Ireland tops UK absenteeism survey
Northern Ireland has the highest rate of absenteeism in the UK according to the latest survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The survey revealed that absence at work continues to cost British industry billions of pounds and that although the average number of days lost per employee has decreased (down to 7.1 days from 7.
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25 April 2002
Absenteeism drops to 14-year low as costs hit £1bn
Workplace absence has fallen to its lowest level for at least 14 years a new survey published by the CBI and PPP healthcare has revealed. However the annual cost to employers has risen by more than a billion pounds. The number of working days lost fell by 16 million, from 192 million in 2000 to 176 million in 2001. That is 7.
Absenteeism drops to 14-year low as costs hit £1bn
Workplace absence has fallen to its lowest level for at least 14 years a new survey published by the CBI and PPP healthcare has revealed. However the annual cost to employers has risen by more than a billion pounds. The number of working days lost fell by 16 million, from 192 million in 2000 to 176 million in 2001. That is 7.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
