Counting the Cost of Workplace Sickness

An important report into workplace sickness is a goldmine for Business teachers looking for some great examples of issues in people management.

How ironic that, on the day I struggled into the tutor2u office suffering from Man Flu, Dame Carol Black should publish her review of the health of Britain’s working age population.

I could have stayed at home in bed, of course. But someone has to make the tea, motivate the girls and drive the strategy forward - so I bravely worked on

However, many people of working age don’t spend as much time at work as they might.

Dame Carol Black reports that ill-health is costing the UK economy £100bn a year.

Her report, commissioned by ministers, calls for a new fit-note system as well as fit for work schemes embedded in the NHS to help people back to work.

It is well worth looking through the press coverage of the report, and perhaps also dipping into the official report website.

Key people management issues covered by the report & debate include:

- Employee productivity
- Fixed costs of sickness absence for businesses
- Motivation at work
- Flexible working practices
- Workplace incentives (financial & non-financial)