The UK Government estimates that the UK economy had to fund an estimated £17 billion cost of sickness absence during 2009, with an average of 6.4 days absence per employee. Long-term absences made up less than one in ten of all spells of absence in 2009, but accounted for more than a fifth of total working time lost. This relatively small group cost the UK economy £3.7bn in 2009 (CBI Pfizer survey 2010), highlighting the need to concentrate resources on those on long term sick. While illness is the major cause of absence, the respondents cited a range of other important contributory factors for example, problems in the employees' personal lives and some employees perceiving paid sick leave as an entitlement.

Minor illnesses and ailments were identified by employers as the most common causes of short-term absence. Back pain was identified as the second most common cause. Mental health problems were also identified as a key cause of absence. Mental health conditions and back pain were reported by employers as the major factors giving rise to long-term absences.

Many small to medium sized enterprises fail to manage sickness absence in a way that benefits both the employee concerned and the company. This leads to increased costs in terms of lost productivity, increased staff workload for those remaining and the costs of replacement agency staff, often employed at higher hourly rates.
Stress and musculoskeletal disorders are the most common causes of absences, along with short term self limiting illnesses such as colds and 'flu'.

Many small to medium sized enterprises fail to manage sickness absence in a way that benefits both the employee concerned and the company. This leads to increased costs in terms of lost productivity, increased staff workload for those remaining and the costs of replacement agency staff, often employed at higher hourly rates.

All Safe OH & S Ltd can offer a bespoke sickness absence service at competitive rates. This is because we offer both Occupational Health Advisor and Occupational Health Physician based sickness absence case management, depending on the individual client company's requirements.

This means that our referral fees are extremely flexible and competitive, as the more expensive Occupational Physician is not our only option.

Qualified Occupational Health Advisors & Physicians are able to manage sickness absence case loads and produce detailed medically confidential reports, thus returning your employees to work safely and promptly.

Our medically confidential sickness absence review reports can cover some or all of the following factors, as well as addressing any specific questions that you or your company may have:

• Whether the person's condition is long or short term
• The Likelihood and time scales for returning to work
• The nature of any specialist referrals that may be required e.g. physiotherapy or counselling
• Information relating to the likelihood of Equality Act 2010 applying in a given case
• Components of any required rehabilitation programmes and their duration

Please contact us for further information and pricing

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