Throwing a sickie

摘要

Ever had a member of staff slink off sick when there's a rush on at work and stay off till after the end of the tax year, sending in doctor's certificates every 28 days? If so, you'll be pleased to hear that the government is planning a crackdown on 'soft touch' GPs who issue month-long sick notes at the drop of a hat. Sickness absence costs the country £11.6bn a year, with the average person taking nine days off (that's 7.8 in the private sector and 10.7 in the public sector). Last year, British Airways staff managed to notch up an average of 17 days' sick leave per employee -an unenviable statistic attributed to low morale and an ongoing dispute over terms and conditions.