# New website finds the real cost of sick leave

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/08/14/new-website-finds-real-cost-sick-leave/
- Published: 2006-08-14T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A new website has been launched by BUPA that calculates the cost of workers’ sickness
absences throughout the year, making it easy for each organisation to work out, 
depending on number of employees, postcode and sector.
A new website has been launched
that calculates the cost of workers’ absences throughout the year.

BUPA has set up www.costofabsence.com using data from the Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development with readings based on the type of industry, postcode,
number of employees and average employee salary. Figures from the CBI estimate the
cost of employee absence to the UK economy in 2005 rose to over £13bn with a total
loss of 164 million working days.

On average, the figures show that charity employees take 6.3 days sick a year, costing
their organisation £590. Top of the list for number of days taken are local government
employees who clock up an average of 11. However, although telecoms staff only take
an average of 5.6 days a year off sick, it costs their companies a whopping £1,234
each, suggesting that telecoms is the place to head for if you want to increase 
your income.

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And just for the record – journalists take an average of 5.4 days, costing their
organisations £599.

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