Martin Shaw: SMEs must tackle productivity

On average 4.1 days off sick a year

clock • 3 min read

AFM CEO introduces two new calculators developed to help small businesses understand how staff absences can affect their business

According to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), workers take on average 4.1 days off sick a year[i]. While an individual's absence may be manageable in the short term through job sharing and overtime, for an SME it can lead to firm-wide losses in productivity and extra stresses on the business. With longer absences, the costs of statutory sick pay and temporary cover has to be factored in.  Research from the Society for Human Resource Management shows that every absence causes a manager's productivity to drop by 15.7% and makes the team as a whole 29.5...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Group Protection

Employers 'misjudge' which benefits workers prioritise

Employers 'misjudge' which benefits workers prioritise

Canada Life research

Jaskeet Briah
clock 19 June 2025 • 2 min read
L&G paid out £347m in group protection claims in 2024

L&G paid out £347m in group protection claims in 2024

Paid out just shy of £1m every day

Jenna Brown
clock 19 June 2025 • 3 min read
Benenden Health adds heart rhythm measurements to offering

Benenden Health adds heart rhythm measurements to offering

Partnership with FibriCheck

Jaskeet Briah
clock 06 June 2025 • 2 min read