Absenteeism due to stress is no good for anyone — it’s time we fixed it

WE’RE the most observed, studied and measured society ever. Ireland can’t get through a week without a new study or survey, measuring something about us.

Our waistlines. The number of homes we’re building or not building. How much less tax money went into Brian Cowen’s exchequer this year than last year. How many hours are worked by the average hospital consultant. (Not that any hospital consultant is ever “average”.) The one under-researched factor is the “acting” issue. It would be great if IBEC, one of the big accountancy firms, the ESRI or the psychology department in a university had a look at this one. Because it’s having an enormous hidden impact on the economy.

It’s in evidence everywhere. In the private sector. In the public sector. In the charities. In the profit-makers.