Excessive sick days can be a serious drain on a business’ productivity; so many employers have adopted new incentives to help employees resist the temptation, according to the BBC.
The UK state broadcaster said that "absences through sickness cost the British economy £10bn a year. With pressure on all employers to tighten their belts, this is one area where many are seeking to make savings." The BBC’s article also noted that the country’s government estimated £555 million could be saved by cutting sick days at the National Health Services alone.
Ben Willmott, of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, told the BBC that "we know that there are higher levels of stress related absence in the public sector. We think this is likely to be because there’s a higher proportion of challenging public-facing roles – teachers, nurses, social workers, police officers, people having to deal with the public in emotionally charged instances."
Experts say that businesses which offer new incentives for employees to maintain good attendance records often see decreases in sick days.
