CBI calls for action on sickness absence

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is calling on the Government to tackle the problem of sickness absence among public sector workers.

According to research by the employers' organisation, staff working in the public sector took an average of 9.1 days off sick in 2004, compared with 6.4 days taken by private sector workers, with public sector absences accounting for 40% of the total number of working days lost.

The CBI says this cost the economy £4.1bn last year.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reacted angrily to the CBI survey.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said, 'The CBI wants us to think that public sector workers are too ready to throw a sickie and take a few days off whenever they feel like it'.

'But more serious analysis of absence statistics shows the exact opposite. Public sector workers are less likely to take short periods off work ill than their colleagues in the private sector'.

Mr Barber added, 'Workers in Britain are not malingerers. The correct conclustion to draw from all the figures is that British employers should be more grateful to their staff for working when they are ill, for taking less time off than their European colleagues and that private sector bosses should learn from the greater loyalty shown by public sector workers'.