GPs need more training to help cut ‘sickies’

14 June 2010

GPs should be given better occupational health training to help cut the number of people taking sick days, UK employers have said.

The call follows the publication of a workplace health survey by the Confederation of British Industry and Pfizer. The survey showed employees took 180 million sick days last year – an average of 6.4 days each.

Sickness levels were highest amongst public sector staff with an average of 8.3 days per year, which is 43 per cent higher than the private sector figure of 5.8 days. Overall, the absence rate is at its lowest since the survey was first carried out in 1987 and down slightly from an average 6.7 days per employee in the previously surveyed year of 2007.

Business leaders responded to the figures by calling on the government to do more. A total of 63 per cent of employers wanted better occupational health training for GPs with 56 per cent looking for improved working relationships between GPs and occupational health professionals. A further 41 per cent wanted GPs to be more flexible in their working hours.

Companies also welcomed the introduction of “fit notes”, which replaced sick notes in April, with 76 per cent of those surveyed saying fit notes would help people get back to work.

Katja Hall, CBI Director of Employment Policy, said: “Unfortunately, bogus sick days remain a problem, and are unfair on hard-working colleagues and employers alike. Although the rate of employee absence has fallen in the public sector, it is still a lot higher than in the private sector, and this issue should be addressed, especially given that the public finances are strained. We estimate that £5.5billion could be saved by 2015-16 if the public sector matched the private sector’s absence rate.

"Improved rehabilitation and workplace health policies are a key part of achieving this – but so is ensuring that absence, where it occurs, is justified.”