The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that some £12 billion was lost to the economy in the year spanning 2005 and 2006 as a result of ill health, prompting concern over the productivity shortfall arising from employee sickness.
HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger highlights figures estimates that some 30 million working days are lost each year due to poor health and safety at work.
Subsequently, Mr Podger urges employers to do more to tackle the problem and limit health-related absenteeism.
Two of the most common health problems at work are stress and back pain, and through better awareness of their causes it is hoped that businesses can effectively reduce lost working days overall.
"The UK has one of the best health and safety records anywhere in the world but with 30 million working days still lost each year, more must be done to embrace the challenges of the modern workplace," he said according to Workplace Law.
The government has outlined plans that will give six million workers up to eight days of extra annual leave in a bid to stop businesses from including bank holidays in annual leave entitlement, reports 24 Dash.
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