Workers' problems cost firms dear

Workers problems cost an estimated £15bn a year

Workers spend up to one day a week trying to cope with personal problems, a survey suggests.

Problems reported range from the serious - such as bereavement - to more routine ones such as childcare.

Human resources consultancy PPC Worldwide said it estimated lost productivity from workers' problems cost UK business £15bn in 2004.

The consultancy added that UK firms needed to improve relationships at work to cut problem-related absenteeism.

Back to work

Barry Winbolt, head of clinical practice at PPC, told the BBC that taking time off to cope with personal issues was not always a good idea.

It can be argued that decent time off and work practices raises productivity and saves money TUC spokesman

"For many people the best place is to be back at work," he said.

"We all have difficulties and need rest and recuperation, but staying at home sitting around can be counterproductive."

Mr Winbolt added that UK employers needed to do more to encourage staff to keep on working when they encounter personal problems.

"Behind the tough business façade they have to be more supportive... the one thing that can give an employer edge is improving relationships at work."

Feeling valued

The TUC told BBC News that employers need to be more understanding to the needs of staff.

"Good employers recognise that their staff are going to have problems from time to time and are flexible about how they deal with it," the trades union organisation's spokesman said.

"Staff working for an understanding employer with flexible working practices are more likely to feel valued and be more productive.

"This report could be flawed - it's saying that having time off costs business money, whereas it can be argued that decent time off and work practices raises productivity and saves money."

In the end there is a limit to the responsibility employers have over their workers home lives and personal problems Richard Dodd, CBI

Limited responsibility

In response, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said UK employers were very responsive to staff coping with personal problems.

"UK employers have an excellent record in offering their staff flexible working arrangements so that they can cope with problems at home," Richard Dodd, CBI spokesman, said.

"But in the end there is a limit to the responsibility employers have over their workers home lives and personal problems."

The CBI has estimated that UK workers took 176 million days off sick in 2003, some of this absenteeism was due to personal problems.

Your comments

Every company I have worked for has been very considerate when it comes to personal problems, Especially child related and bereavements. The problem lies with the growing amount of people taking advantage of this considerate approach by using it to get more holiday. UK companies have a lot of improving to do with regards to long hours and wage levels but as a whole they do appear to be very good at dealing with workers personal problems.
Lee, Birmingham, UK

My company is more interested in what I deliver than in what time I take to do what. If I need to sort something out it's cheaper for the company to simply take a few personal phone calls on the company bill than to lose me for half a day at a time. It has to be a bit of give and take - even down to something simple like when my car is due its MOT I arrive late and leave early. But other times if my boss needs a bit extra from me he can reasonably expect me to go the extra mile.
John B, UK

I think this is probably one of the toughest things for employers to deal with, and it really just depends on the person as we all have different thresholds. I've had no time off for any reason for the last 8 years, despite the extremely tough break-up of my relationship with the girl I was going to marry and some serious family health problems. Whereas a girl in the office recently had to take a day off because her cat had to be put down. Luckily, my employer can be both sympathetic and tough when needed, and most of us are happy at work because we know we will be treated fairly.
Reg Pither, London, England

After recently suffering a bereavement, I really appreciated the sympathetic attitude of my boss who gave me time to spend with my family. I didn't abuse her generosity and came back prepared to roll my sleeves up and get on with the job. While some employees will take advantage, most have a mature attitude and realise that if there is give and take on both sides, productivity levels will not be affected detrimentally. In fact it is more likely to boost morale and have a positive effect.
Joanna , Scotland

I recently had a kidney transplant. Before this I had to take THREE afternoons a week off for kidney dialysis. As a result I only worked 31 hours per week, not 37 and a half. My employer (Marconi plc) has been very understanding indeed. Also, when I had the transplant operation I took 3 months off as well. I now feel very happy to work where I am, and definitely would go the extra mile for my boss.
Baxter Pearson, Coventry, UK.

Given the crazy hours we work in the UK, it's not surprising when employees develop personal/relationship problems at home. Whilst most employers are understanding when it comes to actually having to take time off, most are not so understanding with regard to hours spent in the office. Almost everybody that i know works over and above the contracted hours simply because of unreasonably short deadlines or because it is "expected". If employers stopped these short sighted managerial practices people wouldn't have to take those "sickies" in the first place. No wonder countries like France can work shorter hours and still be more productive.
Kam, London, England

I think companies need to be flexible with what personal things an employee can do at work. For example, it's easier now to take a few minutes out of your day to do your banking online or make a quick phone call than to rush down to the bank. Everyone seems to work mainly between 9-5 so this is normally the only time you can contact some people. My employer seems to be very co-operative with this, especially as most of my calls go back to the UK.
Tim, Germany

I have had several jobs in the last 2-3 years and not one of my employers have been sympathetic towards anything .... All my managers were un-caring and were only interested if you were in the office so you can do their job for them.... Time off what is that ? Is this an IT thing ?
Dave, Leeds, UK

My wife teaches in one of our lovely state schools. She also has an aging grandmother who has been described by the doctors as not being expected to live much longer. Having had several days off ill with some of the many illnesses the children like to bring to school with them she was told by her head-teacher that she would not be allowed a day off to attend her grandmothers funeral unless she died during the school holidays. The understanding and caring attitude prevalent in many of our employers is highly dependent on the local management and is often not something that is uniform across an entire company.
Anon, Avon