TUC slams CBI's sick response

The CBI should quit its bellyaching about sickness levels and do something to make work less sickening, the TUC has said. Commenting after the publication of employers' organisation's annual absence survey, TUC said the CBI should acknowledge sickness rates are falling and instead of making claims about the cost of 'sickies', should instead encourage employers to address the unhealthy workplaces and work practices that are making workers sick. The CBI report said sick leave cost UK businesses £13.2 billion last year, with workers taking an average of 6.7 days absence for illness. CBI said about one absence in ten is believed to be a sickie - days taken without a legitimate reason - costing the UK economy £1.6bn a year. However, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This survey shows that sickness absence in the UK has fallen once again and is now at one of the lowest levels in recent years. The figures smash the myth that Britain is a nation of shirkers, with workers always on the lookout for an excuse to pull a 'sickie'. In fact the reverse is true and many people still struggle into work when they are far too ill to do so.' Mr Barber added: 'It is not surprising that the areas with the highest sickness absence figures are also those with the highest injury or work related ill-health rates such as construction and health care. It's time employers stopped blaming workers for taking time off sick and instead tried working with unions to see how their workplaces can be made more healthy.'

CBI news release. Personnel Today. Scotsman. The Guardian.

Briefing document (300 words) issued 16 May 2008