Have you ever been late for work? What was your excuse? Have you ever had to take a day off? Why? Lateness and absenteeism are growing problems in the UK, and they're hurting business.
According to recent statistics, there’s been a rise in the number of people who take days off. In fact, the average British employee is absent from work for 7.4 days a year. But surely Time the odd absence here and there can’t be that worrying, can it? Well, it seems it can. In fact, experts have calculated that it’s costing the British economy between £10 and £12 billion a year. That’s the equivalent of £666 per employee. And it's having a devastating effect with missed deadlines, lower morale among colleagues who take on extra responsibilities, lost business, and additional costs as companies have to hire and pay for temporary replacement staff.
The three main causes for lateness or absenteeism seem to be sickness, family responsibilities, or a work-related reason (such as a training session). But not all of them are quite so straightforward. In fact, some of the excuses for lateness or claims for absence are truly incredible. Would you feel sympathy for any of these people?