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Workplace health could be key to public sector efficiency, according to new research. As the politicians battle over how and where to make public sector cuts, two studies have highlighted the heavy financial cost of illness and workplace practices. The Work Foundation published research suggesting the cost of employees struggling into work when ill could match the UK's £13bn bill for sickness absence. It warned that people turning up for work, despite being ill – sickness presence rather than absence – had serious consequences. The foundation said employers should not ignore the impact of sickness presence as it related to lower performance, higher sickness absence, higher work-related stress and poorer psychological wellbeing. Research revealed the three factors which usually drove sickness presence were personal financial difficulties, work-related stress and perceived workplace pressure from senior managers, line managers or colleagues. Work-related stress among council workers, according to the Local Government Association (LGA), was costing local authorities in England and Wales more than £500m. The LGA study found almost five million days were lost by councils due to mental health problems such as depression – roughly equivalent to 13,300 people being off every working day. It revealed 23% of the 9.6 sick days each worker took off each year were for stress-related conditions. By comparison, police staff took off 1.55 days due to stress. In response to the findings, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development claimed the public sector had a softer approach to absenteeism, partly due to higher rates of union membership. A spokesman for Local Government Employers, said: ‘Local government currently has one of the lowest rates of sickness absence for any part of the public sector.' Earlier this year, 10 Whitehall departments, including the CLG, issued guidance on how to reduce workplace stress. A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which was a part of the initiative, said the Government took workplace safety and stress-related issues seriously. ‘Workplace stress is an important issue under health and safety. Like all big employee organisations, stress is of concern as it is one of the biggest causes of sickness and absenteeism, so it should be treated properly.'

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WHITEHALL

Research exposes heavy cost of workplace illness

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