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High levels of absence at government agencies

By TJ (21-11-2007)
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Learning and Development News - High levels of absence at government agencies

Comments by the House of Commons Public Accounts committee about an "amazingly high rate of absence” at two government agencies are reinforced by the CIPD’s absence management survey 2007 which shows an increase from 4.3% to 4.5% (10.3 days per employee) in absence levels in the public sector in the past year. This compares to a rise in absence from 3% to 3.2 % (7.2 days per employee) in the private sector.

Key findings:

Rates of absence:

  • The average level of employee absence has increased for the first time in two years – now 3.7% of working time lost compared to 3.5% in 2006.
  • Only three quarters of employers record their annual employee absence rate.
  • On average, employers believe that about 16% of absence is not genuine.
  • The only decrease in average absence levels across the public services was recorded by the local government organisations, which saw the headline rate of employee absence fall significantly from 4.8% to 3.7%. 

Cost of absence

  • The average cost of absence increased to £659 per employee per year from last year’s figure of £598.
  • The cost of absence is highest in the public sector at £732 per employee per year compared to £680 last year.

The research shows that, within the public services, the health sector recorded the biggest annual increase in the level of employee absence to 5.5 % (12.6 days per employee), up from 4.6% last year. The annual average absence rate for central government employees increased from 4.6% to 4.9% (11.1 days per employee). 

One contributing factor to the increase in employee absence in the public sector may be the way in which absence is managed. Public sector organisations are more likely to address problem levels of employee absence as a matter of health and capability, while private sector organisations are more likely to manage absence as an issue of conduct through the disciplinary process.

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