Irish Workers Take 11 Million Sick Days

Absenteeism is costing Irish businesses more than $2.17 billion a year, according to figures released by IBEC, the employer's body.

On average, workers missed just under six days each during the year.

The figures don't include public holidays, annual leave, other statutory leave or days lost to industrial action.

The report defines absence as "unscheduled disruption of unscheduled disruption of the work process due to days lost as a result of sickness or any other cause not excused through statutory entitlements or company approval".

IBEC says the main cause was minor illness.

Four per cent of companies said alcohol or alcohol-related illness was a leading cause for men, and one per cent for women.

Workers in call centres were the most likely to miss work, while people employed in the software sector were the least likely.

One quarter of companies have sacked staff over absenteeism and more than four in ten had taken disciplinary action.

Ibec director of policy Brendan Butler said: "The recession appears to have led to a reduced level of absenteeism; however, it remains a serious social and economic issue.

"Besides its obvious impact on particular workplaces, absence affects the wider economy through loss of potential output and the increased spend on social security. While not all absence can be eliminated, there is significant room for improvement."

Mr Butler offered a number of suggestions to employers to help reduce the absentee rate.

"We encourage employers to conduct back-to-work interviews and consider introducing a fit-note policy, similar to that in the UK, where a doctor's note can specify if an employee is fit to return fully or fit to return under certain conditions.

"Companies should also design their sick-pay schemes in a way that does not in any way incentivise sick leave.

"Health education and wellness programmes play an important role in managing absence. Employee assistant programmes and confidential counselling services can support employees during times of personal problems and mental illness, two of the top six reasons for long-term illness in males and females."