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We're still sick, we're just sick at work now

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A fall in absence levels could be masking deeper problems in the workplace, as workers fearing for their job take their sickness to work, a new report suggests. The average level of employee absence fell by almost a day compared with last year, from 7.7 days to 6.8 per employee per year, according to this year's Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey. But the fall in absence levels coincides with almost a third of employers reporting an increase in the number of people going into work ill. CIPD said the threat of redundancies and concerns over job security are shown to contribute to 'presenteeism', with organisations that are expecting to make redundancies in the next six months more likely to report an increase in employees going into work when unwell, than employers that are not expecting to cut jobs. Stress-related absence, which was the most common cause of long-term sickness absence, also appears to be on the increase, with two-fifths of employers (40 per cent) reporting a rise over the past year and only one in ten (10 per cent) reporting that the problem had decreased. According to the survey, organisations who have noted an increase in presenteeism over the past year are more likely to report an increase in stress-related absence over the same period - 52 per cent compared with 38 per cent of those who did not report an increase in people coming in to work ill. Dr Jill Miller, research adviser at CIPD, commented: 'Continuing economic uncertainty and fears over job security appears to be taking its toll on employees. We are seeing employees struggling into work to demonstrate their commitment, suggesting presenteeism can be a sign of anxiety. Failing to address employees' concerns is likely to confound the issue, impact on morale and commitment and may cause or exacerbate stress or mental health problems.'

CIPD news release and CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey. Personnel Today.

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