The number of employers making changes to working patterns in a positive move to try and reduce long-term absence levels has increased by 20% in the last year, according to figures just released by the CIPD. The annual CIPD/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey reveals that, after a small decrease reported in last year’s survey, absence is back up to the levels observed in 2011 and 2010, at an average of 7.6 days per employee. Absence levels are highest in the public services sector (8.7 days per employee per year) and lowest in the manufacturing and production sector (6 days per employee per year). With absence levels on the rise again, employers are attaching growing importance to making changes to working patterns and environments, as a means of managing long-term absence levels. Over 70% reported that introducing flexible working opportunities in the past year has had a positive impact on absence levels.
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