More public sector staff work when ill

More public sector staff work when ill

Government claims that there are easy savings to be had from cracking down on sickness absence in the public sector have been challenged by new TUC research showing that these workers are much more likely to turn in even when sick. The TUC report, 'The truth about sickness absence', shows that while public sector workers take longer periods off work on absence, many work in stressful and dangerous public sector jobs that can cause injury. It says private sector workers are much more likely to work for employers who are quick to sack people with genuine health problems rather than help them return to work. A TUC poll found within the last month, more than one in five public sector workers has been to work when too ill to do so (21 per cent). A further 41 per cent (compared to 36 per cent of private sector workers) have gone into work poorly when they should have stayed off sick within the last year, though not in the last month. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'People often talk about a 'sicknote culture' in the UK. Many seem to think that public sector workers are particularly guilty of taking time off work when they are not really unwell. The truth is we are really a nation of mucus troopers, where workers - particularly those in the public sector - routinely go into work when they are too ill and should be at home.' He added 'there is most to gain from tackling the causes of absence, particularly stress, and helping people return to work. Employers who use the carrot approach of engaging with their workforce in a positive way will reap the benefits, while those who use the stick approach will find it backfires on them.'

TUC news release, The truth about sickness absence report [word] and full poll findings [pdf