Sickness absence costs businesses a small fortune.  The CBI statistics for 2005 suggest the costs are in the region of £495 a year in direct costs for every worker employed. Indirect costs are probably considerably more.
 
To help employers manage absence HMRC have provided links on their website to the Health and Safety Executive’s free guidance and toolkit for small and medium sized businesses to enable them to set up policies and procedures to monitor and manage absence.

To read the advice and download the ‘toolkit’ visit the links below.

Internet Links: HMRC stop press |  HSE guidance | HSE toolkit