Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

103
Musculo-Skeletal 1271.43 30.3 866.29 22.
9
Mental Health (Inc
Stress)
1127.43 26.8 775.80 20.
5
Operations &
Treatments
756.82 18.0 981.71 25.
9
Stress alone 568.57 13.5 341.71 9.0
Heart & Blood
266.66 6.3 85.0 2.2
Pressure
Back Problems 125.29 3.0 202.71 5.4
* It is worth noting that these are the official reasons as defined by GP letters and notes
While Figure 2 describes the reasons for all working days lost (including short-term sickness absence and
long-term absences) within the participating organisation, Table 3 above depicts the total number of days lost
throughout the organisation, taking into account only long-term absences. It is often important to make a
distinction between long-term and short-term absences. This is because many short-term absences (as defined as
fewer than 21 days of missing work) are for ‘minor' illnesses such as cold/flu, stomach upsets of
headache/migraine which can upset an organisation but are often reported less than longer-term absences.
Indeed, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD, 2011a) found that these minor illnesses were the
top cause of all short-term absences in 98% of all organisations, and when separated from public and private
organisations also the top cause of short-term absences in 98% of public-sector organisations. These short-term
absences would add to the overall figures for ‘Viral Infections’ and ‘Stomach, Liver, Kidney’ problems as described
in Figure 8 (above).