Survey suggests ‘Fit note'scheme success

Sickness absence is continuing on a downward trend amongst UK employees, according to a major survey of sickness absence released by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, and Westfield Health, one of the UK's leading health insurance providers.

The EEF/Westfield Health 2011 Sickness Absence Survey shows that from 2007 to 2010 there has been a steady fall in sickness absence, with the average employee taking 5.0 days sickness in 2010 compared to 6.7 days in 2007.

Significantly, an all time high of 45% of employees took no days off through sickness in 2010. Whilst recessionary effects may have played a part, this trend began before the recession with year on year improvements over the last five years.

The survey is said to show a clear correlation between those companies with strategies in place to train managers in sickness absence and tougher absence targets, with falling absence rates. More than two thirds are now achieving their targets compared to half in 2007 whilst those companies who trained their managers are one third more likely to reduce their sickness absence.

Professor Sayeed Khan, EEF chief medical adviser, says: “The continued downward trend in sickness absence is welcome recognition of efforts by companies and government to get people back to work.

In particular, it is striking that the companies who have proactively contacted their GPs to discuss adjusting people's working arrangements have seen the highest level of response.