One In Five British Workers Fake A "sickie"

[OnionTerror]

http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=5474&Title=UK+Workers+Take+35+Million+Sickies+Per+Year

One in five UK workers faked an illness the last time they took a day off from work as sick leave, according to a new survey from Aon Consulting. Over 800 million sick days were taken across Europe, with over 20% of these sick days taken in the UK - equating to 35 million sickies per year.

The group polled 7,500 workers across Europe and found that Danish people were the least inclined to pretend to be ill in order to get time away from work. A mere 4% of employees faked an illness for their last day off, compared to 21% of employees in the UK. But the Spanish were the most likely to fake being sick.

Peter Abelskamp, Director of health and benefits EMEA, at Aon Consulting said: 'A billion hours taken as fictitious sick leave across Europe and the associated financial cost for businesses are probably conservative figures, considering the number of people who don't admit to faking sickness and the fact that these costs only account for direct wages'.

'52 per cent of Brits say they would not feel forced to take a day as sick leave if they could just be honest and have access to flexible working hours or 'social days'.

Mr. Abelskamp suggested that employers make work more interesting, as this would compel 16% of those polled to devote more time to the office. A quarter of respondents said that cash incentives would also make them stay in work.

Aon Consulting polled 1,005 UK workers for the survey.

Not surprising really, seeing as we work the longest hours in Europe..

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=416057&in_page_id=2

Norman Baker wants to bring in laws which make it easier for ppl to work from home at least one day & fortnight, as well as strongly encouraging flexible working. The ConDems apparently have promised to cut CO2 emissions, and the first thing they want to target, is the rush-hour..

http://www.gradplus.com/graduate-news/employees-should-work-1-day-in-10-from-home-minister-says-19886947.aspx

[Tonkers]

http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=5474&Title=UK+Workers+Take+35+Million+Sickies+Per+Year

Not surprising really, seeing as we work the longest hours in Europe..

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=416057&in_page_id=2

Norman Baker wants to bring in laws which make it easier for ppl to work from home at least one day & fortnight, as well as strongly encouraging flexible working. The ConDems apparently have promised to cut CO2 emissions, and the first thing they want to target, is the rush-hour..

http://www.gradplus.com/graduate-news/employees-should-work-1-day-in-10-from-home-minister-says-19886947.aspx

Amen to that, new technology has made the rigid nine to five chained to desk practice obsolete. It is ludicrous that I should cross town five days a week to sit in a lousy office. However, I know three blokes who pretty much cannot work from home because of their wives. One fears getting home before six. Mad.

[Guest Noodle]

http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=5474&Title=UK+Workers+Take+35+Million+Sickies+Per+Year

Not surprising really, seeing as we work the longest hours in Europe..

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=416057&in_page_id=2

Norman Baker wants to bring in laws which make it easier for ppl to work from home at least one day & fortnight, as well as strongly encouraging flexible working. The ConDems apparently have promised to cut CO2 emissions, and the first thing they want to target, is the rush-hour..

http://www.gradplus.com/graduate-news/employees-should-work-1-day-in-10-from-home-minister-says-19886947.aspx

I never really understood why the home-working thing never took off with fast broadband.

People sit in traffic jams everyday, twice a day, to go to an office and sit in front of a computer. If that isn't a definition of insanity . . .

Edited July 15, 2010 by Noodle

[domo]

Would have been more believable if it read " In Five British Workers Don't Fake A "sickie""

Poor suckers having to turn up for work.

[OnionTerror]

I never really understood why the home-working thing never took off with fast broadband.

People sit in traffic jams everyday, twice a day, to go to an office and sit in front of a computer. If that isn't a definition of insanity . . .

Possibly because many do not trust their employees to work whilst at home..Meetings can be done via Skype..

Edited July 15, 2010 by zagreb78

[Tonkers]

I never really understood why the home-working thing never took off with fast broadband.

People sit in traffic jams everyday, twice a day, to go to an office and sit in front of a computer. If that isn't a definition of insanity . . .

Particularly the poor sods with a 2/3 hour commute.

Many offices are just horrible too, no natural light, no air, flatulent co workers. Mind you, my ex boss liked lording it over people, physically, in fact I think his whole venture is about keeping humans as weird pets in a dungeon and playing with them. Tool.

[Tonkers]

Would have been more believable if it read " In Five British Workers Don't Fake A "sickie""

Poor suckers having to turn up for work.

If you are going to chuck a sickie you should go the whole hog and take a couple of weeks.

[bomberbrown]

How exactly does a barber or a chef work from home?

edit:spelign

Edited July 15, 2010 by bomberbrown

[@contradevian]

How exactly does a barber or a chef work from home?  

edit:spelign

Gives instructions to clients over Facebook chat or MSN?

[the_duke_of_hazzard]

The physical proximity of co-workers is essential for so many things at work. It's a massive time-saver.

If you worked from home, they'd want you to do more hours and be always available.

[bomberbrown]

In my work, IT Support, I reckon I could effectively work from home one day a week. However, I think I prefer getting out of the house to be honest. I occasionally do work from home when I have a delivery or summat.

[OnionTerror]

The physical proximity of co-workers is essential for so many things at work. It's a massive time-saver.

If you worked from home, they'd want you to do more hours and be always available.

Those who do work at from home also work an enormous unpaid overpaid overtime, as they feel compelled to..Many companies know this..

[SarahBell]

Perhaps allowing people a number of "hangover days" instead would be more honest.

Unpaid of course.

[Tonkers]

The physical proximity of co-workers is essential for so many things at work. It's a massive time-saver.

If you worked from home, they'd want you to do more hours and be always available.

Depends on the office and the culture. My ex colleagues had a strategy of doing as little as possible, the ex boss of having 2 hour meetings every other day about nothing, the worst environment to achieve anything. I never allowed clients to the place, it was a stinker!

In fact at one point, before I got the OK on working at home, I was getting up at five am to get my work done then going into the office to deal with the politics. It was such a monkey house I could not make professional phone calls from my desk, had to go out into the street.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Tonkers

[erranta]

<br /><a href='http://www.freshbusi...ickies+Per+Year</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Not surprising really, seeing as we work the longest hours in Europe..<br /><br /><a href='http://www.thisismon...57&in_page_id=2</a><br /><br />Norman Baker wants to bring in laws which make it easier for ppl to work from home at least one day & fortnight, as well as strongly encouraging flexible working. The ConDems apparently have promised to cut CO2 emissions, and the first thing they want to target, is the rush-hour..<br /><br /><a href='http://www.gradplus....s-19886947.aspx</a><br />

<br /><br /><br />

It's easy, one half go into work first 3 days p.week - other half weds thurs fri = 36 hrs + work at home if they need to.

Only rush hr clash is on weds when both sets go in (meetings scheduled for both parties).

Trillions saved in non-traffic jams, get a seat on train most days of week, less spent on child minding, more time with kids etc

Happier, less stressed workforce = more productivity/less sickies for no cost + mass reduced jams on roads in rush hr if planned correctly.

[erranta]

<br />How exactly does a barber or a chef work from home? <img src="http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif" /> <br /><br />edit:spelign<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Gordon the ferkin kife thrower, yes-chef-more-JUS was caught pre-preparing meals in a factory that the "top chefs" you were paying for, just re-heated in his restaurant kitchens!

[rolf]

Possibly because many do not trust their employees to work whilst at home..Meetings can be done via Skype..

"Meetings" = excuse for work used by managers.

I have never been in one productive "meeting" in my life and I have worked for three companies, of varying sizes, all are known to the public.

[Guest Noodle]

"Meetings" = excuse for work used by managers.

I have never been in one productive "meeting" in my life and I have worked for three companies, of varying sizes, all are known to the public.

+1.

I banned them on some sites.

[RufflesTheGuineaPig]

I banned them on some sites.

At our factory meetings are held in a glass office. With no chairs. Everyone stands.

Everyone.

[Guest Noodle]

At our factory meetings are held in a glass office. With no chairs. Everyone stands.

Everyone.

At one firm, the MD had this thing about meetings, total paranoia. What he never realised is we were running the project 100% efficient . . . if only it wasn't for all the damn meetings. My department, I had everyone faking meetings in the end, random meeting minutes about nothing I mean you could have taken the minutes straight out of Jackenory, no one know any different.

90% of the time it's paranoia and posturing by directors.

Something about British 'industry', they want you to work harder not smarter. It also amazes me the lack of foresight these people have, they over complicate the simplest of things. Eventually this is the undoing of whole firms.

[TheUsualSuspect]

More garbage from a 'Human Capital' consultancy...

How much resource is wasted by companies such as Aon consulting producing such tripe ? Perhaps if these people had proper jobs, producing real value to the UK economy, rather than pontificating about dubious research ("Aon Consulting polled 1,005 UK workers for the survey.") based upon small samples, then the UK would actually be an economy that had a future.

For each clipboard-wielding statistician I can comfortably state that Aon consultancy and its work is a 100% drain, completely useless and if none of them did any such research in the future, none of them would be missed . How much would that "save" for the economy ?

[Yoss]

More garbage from a 'Human Capital' consultancy...

How much resource is wasted by companies such as Aon consulting producing such tripe ? Perhaps if these people had proper jobs, producing real value to the UK economy, rather than pontificating about dubious research ("Aon Consulting polled 1,005 UK workers for the survey.") based upon small samples, then the UK would actually be an economy that had a future.

For each clipboard-wielding statistician I can comfortably state that Aon consultancy and its work is a 100% drain, completely useless and if none of them did any such research in the future, none of them would be missed . How much would that "save" for the economy ?

Good managers manage by setting targets and monitoring results, bad managers manage by what time you enter/leave the office. Sadly many bad mangers are out there, don't understand the work their sub-ordinates are doing so micro manage on how long you are in the office!

Fred always starts at 8:00 and never leaves until 18:00-19;30 in a bad managers eyes makes Fred is a good committed employee!

Where as Barney doesn't turn up until 10:00 and leaves at 16:00, surfs the internet all day .. that makes him a bad employee!

Sad truth is... Barney achieves all his goals..needs more 'Goals' and needs a pay rise!

Fred however clearly can't cope or is screwing you for overtime he doesn't deserve..or worse yet is posturing for a 'management position!'

OR sooner or later Fred's gunna have his GP sign him of with stress! ...due to your poor "MICRO" management!

Fact! BAD MANAGERS have staff with lots of sick leave,Good ones don't! (regardless how many hours their staff do!)

Fact! BAD MANAGERS will have staff that 'Work To Rule', Good ones will have staff that will ebb/flow to the business needs.

SAD Fact! People that suck up/play golf with the boss, are far more likely to get made managers... Unless they work for a manager that recognises these signs.

[TheUsualSuspect]

Good managers manage by setting targets and monitoring results, bad managers manage by what time you enter/leave the office. Sadly many bad mangers are out there, don't understand the work their sub-ordinates are doing so micro manage on how long you are in the office!

Fred always starts at 8:00 and never leaves until 18:00-19;30 in a bad managers eyes makes Fred is a good committed employee!

Where as Barney doesn't turn up until 10:00 and leaves at 16:00, surfs the internet all day .. that makes him a bad employee!

Sad truth is... Barney achieves all his goals..needs more 'Goals' and needs a pay rise!

Fred however clearly can't cope or is screwing you for overtime he doesn't deserve..or worse yet is posturing for a 'management position!'

OR sooner or later Fred's gunna have his GP sign him of with stress! ...due to your poor "MICRO" management!

Fact! BAD MANAGERS have staff with lots of sick leave,Good ones don't! (regardless how many hours their staff do!)

Fact! BAD MANAGERS will have staff that 'Work To Rule', Good ones will have staff that will ebb/flow to the business needs.

SAD Fact! People that suck up/play golf with the boss, are far more likely to get made managers... Unless they work for a manager that recognises these signs.

A great summary of how the often lauded Private sector works.

More efficient, more productive, more wealth creating. The myths promoted by the same types who rise to the top under the current system of money at all costs.

All complete toss if you're not a glad-hander who "self-promotes". I've seen it, you've obviously seen it. The fact remains that if most managers and 'indispensable talents' were to disappear, many companies in this country (and at a guess, throughout most countries), would prosper.

Workers create the Wealth and the Managers, the Human Resources, etc. and the shareholders do nothing, yet reap the rewards. The system is completely corrupt.

[Yoss]

A great summary of how the often lauded Private sector works.

More efficient, more productive, more wealth creating. The myths promoted by the same types who rise to the top under the current system of money at all costs.

All complete toss if you're not a glad-hander who "self-promotes". I've seen it, you've obviously seen it. The fact remains that if most managers and 'indispensable talents' were to disappear, many companies in this country (and at a guess, throughout most countries), would prosper.

Workers create the Wealth and the Managers, the Human Resources, etc. and the shareholders do nothing, yet reap the rewards. The system is completely corrupt.

I agree in part/but also dis-agree. Shareholders stump up the cash! Good managers give the results, workers will always do the work...rewarding the right ones however...is much harder.

The one nice thing about big 'Down Turns' is the useless suck up 'middle managers' get wedded out!

Companies that fail to do it simply fail... Spotting the ones making correct the higher mgt cuts is where the profit lies for shareholders! Those shareholders to stupid to know/demand it deserve the returns they get.

[TheUsualSuspect]

I agree in part/but also dis-agree. Shareholders stump up the cash! Good managers give the results, workers will always do the work...rewarding the right ones however...is much harder.

The one nice thing about big 'Down Turns' is the useless suck up 'middle managers' get wedded out!

Companies that fail to do it simply fail... Spotting the ones making correct the higher mgt cuts is where the profit lies for shareholders! Those shareholders to stupid to know/demand it deserve the returns they get.

I realise now that I was being more idealistic than your post suggested, so apologies for that.

I would take your original post however and ask myself/yourself why this appalling ineptitude comes from.

Good managers by definition are leaders, motivators and perhaps friends who you may socialise with.

The crap ones, and there are many, seem to use the toss trotted out in the original article as a means to crack-down on their staff as you say. The circle though is surely a self-serving cycle of crap management, fed into, as if by drip-feed by the nonsense espoused by "Aon Consulting". It serves no purpose and is actually a drain on companies and effectively is drawing money away from the productive workers within those organisations.

These people are snake-oil salesmen. They sell 'common-sense' lazily out to those bad managers to which we both refer, and the latter bunch love it as it gives them yet another pointless goal to achieve that actually stifles rather than promotes good practice.