Absence from work cost the UK economy £13.2bn last year as the average employee took almost seven (6.7) days off sick, while the gulf between absence rates in the public sector and the private sector grew to a record level, new research has revealed.
The latest CBI/AXA Absence Survey showed that average absence levels across the public sector stood at nine days, which is 55 per cent higher than the 5.8 day average of the private sector.
The private sector improved its absence levels over 2007, while the public sector stood still.
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£1.4bn of taxpayers' money could be saved if public sector organisations matched the private sector average.
The survey also revealed that of the 172 million days lost to absence in 2007, more than one in 10 (12 per cent) are thought to be non-genuine.
These 21 million sickies' cost the economy £1.6bn and two-thirds (65 per cent) of employers think that some staff are using them to extend weekends. Some 60 per cent said that fake sickness was used to extend holiday, and a third of employers (34 per cent) suspect that sickies are used for special events like birthdays and major football games.
Long-term absence (20 days or more) also continued to be a serious concern for firms.
Although only five per cent of absence spells became long-term, they accounted for a massive 40 per cent of all time lost, costing £5.3bn. Long-term absence accounted for half of all time lost in the public sector, but under a third (31 per cent) in the private sector.
Susan Anderson, CBI Director of HR Policy, said: "Everyone agrees that sick people need time off work. But employers face two serious and expensive challenges - dealing with bogus sick days, and helping those with long-term illness return to work when they are fit to do so.
"People who awarded themselves sickies to enjoy the recent sunny weather or to extend a weekend away are acting unfairly, leaving their colleagues to pick up their work, and costing taxpayers and employers more than a billion pounds a year.
"Those with long-term illnesses need time to recover - nobody expects anyone to be at the office checking their e-mails the day after a heart bypass. But in many cases, like those involving stress or back pain, firms that keep in touch with employees and offer flexible working have been successful at reducing long-term absence levels.
"A fresh, proactive approach to managing long-term absence could help stem the flow onto incapacity benefit and help employers to retain skilled employees."
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