Millions of working days are lost every year through sickness and injury, costing the country billions of pounds.

However Unison, which represents 1.3m public workers, believes the government should concentrate on addressing the root causes of absenteeism by improving working conditions.

Here are a selection of your thoughts on the subject:

"I work in the public sector and strongly agree with the figures being suggested. A 'slack' culture has developed where sick leave is considered additional annual leave. It is unfair for those of us who do not abuse the system (I have not had a day of sick in three years).

"Obviously there is a need to look after those who are genuinely ill, but I would support some 'firm' legislation from the government to discourage those who abuse the system. One method of doing this might be to make the disciplinary procedures simpler and quicker. More effective would be financial penalties for persistent self certified absence."
Ben Randell-Sly, UK

"Although I recognise that there is a problem I think that it should be balanced out against the companies that expect their employees to put in an extra working day and a half in extra hours each week, (e.g. where contracted hours are 37.5 and actual hours are an average of 48), but give nothing in return when time off is needed other than for holidays.

"They kindly give the employee 20 or 25 days holiday but expect them to work 65 days in extra hours and that is just those companies that stand by the maximum working week. If the government ever bother to do their maths they will see that an average of 2 weeks sick leave is easily compensated for by the 'free' days given to companies."
Kevin Brown

"The problem here is that too many people are trapped into work long hours and unsociable days by the fear that their managers may replace them.

"The attitude of "there is always someone else to do your job" still haunts a lot of employees. This means that too many employees, a sick day is the only acceptable way to get time off without fear of recrimination. There is also the "tactical sickie". This is where the employee goes sick to avoid a particular task or unpleasant duty.

"Again these tasks are defined by managers of the old school. I have taken days off sick to avoid a company organised adventure weekend. As luck would have it I was actually sick those days so I was not skivving".
Paul Williams, UK

"If employers (excepting my current employer, of course!) actually seemed grateful when staff struggle in despite their feeling under the weather then maybe there would be more of an incentive to take less sickies.

"It is all about the working culture: in sectors where staff feel that they have jobs for life, guaranteed promotions on the dead man's shoes principle and are not motivated, of course they will take many days off sick.

"If an employee works in a meritocracy, is rewarded financially and with praise by their manager and gets job satisfaction, you can bet they will be more reluctanct to takes days off sick. The carrot not the stick is always more effective in motivating an intelligent workforce."
Andy Szebeni, UK

"In my opinion the number of bogus 'sickies' taken by staff at a particular establishment is a good indicator of how satisfied the workforce is with the working conditions.

"When I had several temporary jobs (mainly as a student), I took many sick days, even though I knew I wouldn't be paid for the time off; work at many places was just unbearable.

"Where I now work, I am very happy, and have had only one bona fide sick day off in two and a half years of employment.

"Favourite excuses in my temping days ranged from the bog-standard flu-like symptoms to more elaborate stories: once I explained that I'd fallen down the stairs on the bus and had injured my back (good for around a week if I recall correctly); another time I stayed at home for two days after my house was burgled."
Liam Gretton UK

"I think that people genuinely think that they are entitled to sick days. I have had three sick days in three years - one memeber of staff here has had 12 days in 3 months! It's an attitude of mind. People honestly believe that society owes them something for nothing. I find the beliefs of casual workers that come through my company quite staggering.

"I think the government is right to tackle this problem, although I think it is a difficult and sensitive issue. I truly believe that if we all buckled down and worked with honour and respect alongside our fellow members of s ociety, we could really make something of Britain. And I'm not some old fogey Tory either - I'm a 31 year-old Labour voter."
Stuart Draper, UK

"Somebody called my brother and asked if he could take off three days at the end of the following week because he had to go to a funeral. Psychic or psycho ??"
Peter Gallagher, UK

"I read, with interest, your article relating to bogus sickness. I think the article, although not designed to address it, did not sufficiently emphasise Unison's valid view regarding the appalling state of some workplace situations.

"Particularly prevalent in nursing and other medical areas, sickness causes reduced staffing levels and increased stress and workload on the remainder, causing more genuine sickness and stress.