Flexible benefits ''reduce sick days''

Offering flexible benefits could cut the volume of annual staff absences.

According to a poll by AON Consulting, many employees feel forced to ring in sick when they actually need to be away from work for personal reasons.

Some 56 per cent of European workers said that flexible benefits such as changing their hours would reduce the frequency of the times they feel forced to lie to their employers.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent of respondents revealed that the last time they claimed to be unwell they were actually attending to another matter.

The research estimated that the cost of sick leave is €40 million (£33.8 million) per year.

Peter Abelskamp, director of health and benefits in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with the firm, remarked: "Employers would be well advised to tackle the issues of sickness and workplace absence, as these seriously impact efficiency and hit their balance sheets."

Flexible benefits which could improve sickness rates include offering personally-tailored schedules, whereby staff are able to start or end when they choose or operate from home. Back