The Hour

Workers in the UK have 10 days sick leave on average every year, twice as many as America (5.5 days) and Asia (4.5 days). The cost of the sicknote culture is around £32billion a year.

However, Britain’s sick-leave stats are not much worse than the rest of Europe, where the rate is 9.7 days.

Richard Phelps, HR consulting partner at Price Waterhouse Cooper who carried out the survey, said: “Absenteeism is a malaise for British business. With sickness accounting for the lion’s share of absence, the question for employers is what can be done to improve health, morale and motivation.

“The line between ‘sickie’ and ‘sickness’ can be blurred, with disenchantment at work sometimes exacerbating medical conditions or preventing a speedy return.

 “There’s also a question of whether UK employers should be investing more in the health of their workforce. US firms tend to take greater responsibility for staff well-being, whether providing gyms in the workplace or access to councillors.”

Technology firms have the lowest rate of absence with 7.6 days on average with the public sector having the highest at 12.2 days.

GETTING BEHIND THE SICK NOTES

• Cameron wants to end it
• Review of absence in Scotland
• Have you pulled a sickie?
• Denise Welch told off for skiving