bbc news | health | monday 'most common for sickness
TRANSCRIPT
7/23/2019 BBC NEWS | Health | Monday 'most common for sickness'
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bbc-news-health-monday-most-common-for-sickness 1/1
ONE-MINUTE WORLD NEWS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Backache is a common cause of absencefrom work
People are doing more work
under more demanding conditions
so are under more stress and
need more rest and recuperation
Professor Cary Cooper
University of Lancaster
More than a third of all sick
leave is taken on a Monday,research suggests.
The study, by consultant firm
Mercer, also found that the highest
rate of absence by far occurs in
January.
The most common reason for
absence was musculo-skeletal
problems, followed by viral
infections and stress-related
illness.
The findings are based on an analysis of sickness management
records for 11,000 employees from a range of private sectororganisations.
They showed that, during 2008,
sick leave in January ran at half a
day per person.
Thirteen of the 20 most popular
days for sickness absence occurred
in January - six of these between 2
and 9 January.
On Thursday 3 and Friday 4 January nearly 5% of the total employee
population was absent on sick leave.
The study found that 35% of all sick leave is taken on a Monday, withattendance on the remaining working days becoming higher as the
week progresses.
But the lowest sick leave rate was recorded on Fridays - just 3% of
the total.
Low morale
Researcher Phiroze Bilimoria said: "Monday sickness and frequent
short-term absences can be a symptom of low employee engagement
and morale within certain teams or departments."
Musculo-skeletal problems, such as muscle strains and backache,
accounted for 24% of the total number of lost days.
Viral infections and stress-related illness made up 17% of the totaleach.
Overall, viral infections were the most commonly given reason for
absence, but the average period of absence was generally small.
In contrast, few people took time off with stress - but their absences
tended to be lengthy.
Female workers took 24% more days off than male workers, and were
more than twice as likely to take time off for stress-related illness,
exhaustion and depression.
Men were at least twice as likely than women to take time off for
muscle sprains, fractures and other physical injuries.
Rest and recuperation
Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health psychologist at the
University of Lancaster, said: "People are doing more work under more
demanding conditions so are under more stress and need more rest
and recuperation.
"Some employees may feel the weekend is not enough so they take
the extra day.
SHARED READ WATCHED/LISTENED
Faulty part caused AirAsia crash
US marine guilty of transgender killing
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News
RBS warned in bank stress test
BBC News
Most popular now, in detail
ws Front Page
ica
ericas
a-Pacific
rope
ddle East
uth Asia
siness
alth
edical notes
ence & Environment
chnology
tertainment
o in the news
-----------
eo and Audio
-----------
ogrammes
ve Your Say
Pictures
untry Profiles
ecial Reports
elated BBC sites
port
WeatherOn This Day
ditors' Blog
BC World Service
Page last updated at 01:20 GMT, Monday, 9 November 2009
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Monday 'most common for sickness'
SEE ALSOEU sick leave ruling criticised
15 Sep 09 | Business
Workplace illness 'to get worse'
03 Apr 09 | Health
Sickies 'make up 12% of absences'
10 Apr 07 | Business
RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Mercer
The Work Foundation
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
internet sites
TOP HEALTH STORIES
Stem cell method put to the test
Hospitals 'eyeing private market'
Low vitamin D 'Parkinson's link'
| News feeds
| News feeds
MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW