Workers fake illness to take sick leave, say bosses

WORKERS are faking illness most of the time they take sick leave, according to an employers’ survey.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise (ISME) organisation of 400 companies employing 12,000 people found that workers miss an average six days after annual leave.

With 900,000 people working in the sector and each missed day costing firms at least €100 in lost productivity and other expenses, the estimated loss to these companies is over €540 million.

However, bosses said they believe that three-quarters of time taken off apart from holidays was due to staff pretending to be sick to avoid work.

“While absences occur for legitimate reasons, including genuine illness and family emergencies, it is also quite obvious, based on the survey results, that unauthorised absences are a huge area of concern for employers,” said ISME chief executive Mark Fielding.

“The problem of unauthorised absenteeism has got to the stage where it is becoming increasingly impossible for small business owners to plan ahead with any certainty,” he said.

Joe O’Flynn, general secretary of the country’s largest union SIPTU, said most good employers have not identified absenteeism as a major issue. “Maybe some of ISME’s members have something to answer for, in how they treat their workers and whether they have schemes in place to give them adequate time with their families and for relaxation,” he said.

“It is important that all companies should have proper annual leave and sick leave schemes, and any hint of abuse can then be brought to the attention of unions,” said Mr O’Flynn.

The ISME survey recorded the highest average incidence of absenteeism in the metals and engineering sector, with 10 days lost per employee, in comparison with just three days in the food and food processing sector.

The organisation is recommending that member companies should monitor and record absenteeism levels, conduct back-to-work interviews to establish causes of absence and introduce disciplinary procedures to deal with persistent feigned illness.

“Senior management should be trained to address absenteeism and its consequences in an adequate manner.

“It is also vital that a work environment is provided that maximises and promotes attendance,” Mr Fielding said.

“Failure to introduce adequate measures to address this growing problem will impose a significant cost on a company both financially and in human terms and will undermine its ability to compete, flourish and grow,” he said.