Sickness absence: A problem not to be sniffed at

Today, the first Monday in February, is 'National Sickie Day'; allegedly the day when staff are most likely to call in sick. While the legitimacy of this is debatable, it is true that the winter months typically see higher absence rates, often due to seasonal illnesses as well as low mood and the post-Christmas blues. It is also true that Monday is by far the most common day for people to call in sick - according to a survey by the ELAS Group, Mondays accounted for nine of the top 10 days for absence. Regardless of the truth around National Sickie Day, one thing is clear: unplanned ab...