Absence management

The average number of days lost to sickness absence has fallen by almost 40% since 1993, dropping from an average of 7.2 days per worker to 4.4 days in 2013.

Replacing staff with above average salaries in some sectors can cost as much as £30,000 per employee, according to a new study.

Tighter sanctions should be considered for employers who do not cooperate with the government's Health and Work Service, despite plans for it to remain voluntary, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says.

UK employers suffer almost one million long-term sickness absences each year, according to official government statistics released today.

Employees off work due to temporary workplace disability could be reduced by one million across the EU through early intervention techniques, according to a Work Foundation report.

Absence rates have returned to 2011 and 2010 levels averaging 7.6 days per employee, after falling slightly in 2012, the annual CIPD and Simplyhealth Absence Management survey has revealed.

Britain's manufacturing firms are losing faith that the government's ‘fit note' programme is delivering on getting people back to work and further action is needed from policymakers, a survey has urged.

Employers need to address causes of problems in the workplace rather than treat the symptoms, a stress management consultancy has warned.

Well thought-out health and wellbeing strategies are lowering employee turnover, reducing sickness absence and improving productivity, a Simplyhealth white paper has shown.

A rehabilitation case management firm has expanded its immediate medical assessment (IMA) service for insurers and solicitors to deliver benefits.