In 2003, absence from the workplace cost UK businesses approximately £11.6 billion, with around 170 million working days lost. The indirect costs of such absence include the cost of administration, unnecessarily high staffing levels, a reduction in the quality or levels of service, a disruption in the workflow, and low morale and general dissatisfaction that could result in low productivity. This, unfortunately, can become a vicious cycle because low morale in itself is thought to be one of the primary causes of an increase in sickness absence. Most employers expect and tolerate some degree of absence, but the majority find the effects of absenteeism on profitability and workforce morale extremely damaging.

Absence from work can, of course, take various forms. Those generally of most concern to employers are long-term absences and persistent shorter-term absences that take place over a long period. It is crucial that when taking action to deal with the issues of absenteeism, employers distinguish between short-term and long-term sickness absences. ...

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