A Social Report for Ireland Volume II - the NESC Website

people of working age 133Figure 7.37 Sick-related Absences from Work, Selected OECDCountries, 20052523.82019.916.8 16.115.2 15.0 14.814.015No. Days1012.611.2 11.1 10.8 10.4 9.79.38.9 8.4 8.16.7 6.55.854.30.50SwedenNorwayFinlandCzech RepublicSpainBelgiumFranceNetherlandsUKGermanyDenmarkOECD AverageAustriaLuxembourgCanadaAustraliaPortugalItalyHungaryIrelandPolandUSAGreeceSource OECD, 2007a: 95 (based on labour force surveys)While a breakdown of the nature of the sickness related to being absent from workis not provided here, there has been increasing awareness in recent years of a highincidence of mental ill-health in the workplace (NESF, 2007b). Some studies havefound that workers are more likely to be absent from work because of stress andanxiety than because of physical illness or injury. Causes of work place stress havebeen cited as cuts in staffing levels, rapid change in the work environment, longworking hours, and bullying. Women may experience greater work stress as theyoften have greater responsibility for caring and domestic work (see section 7.5 of thischapter), as well as less control and discretion in the workplace (NESF, 2007: 91). Thereis a stigma attached to mental ill-health with an associated fear of disclosure. Theevidence to date suggests that employers would welcome guidance and informationon dealing with mental ill-health and promoting positive mental health. This may beeven more challenging in a climate of economic recession.Attending a GPThe second indicator on the general health component is attending a generalpractitioner (GP). Figure 7.38 shows the proportion of respondents in the SLÁN 2007survey who had attended a general practitioner in the previous 12 months (Morganet al., 2008). Overall, 74 per cent of respondents had attended a GP, with a higherpercentage of women (80 per cent) reporting attendance than men (67 per cent).For men, attendance increased with age but this age difference was not discernablefor working age women. From this evidence there were no discernible social classdifferences (Morgan et al., 2008: 38). In 2006 one fifth of 16 to 24 year olds had amedical card, rising to 30 per cent for 50 to 64 year olds. Some 42 per cent of 16 to24 year olds had private health insurance, rising to 53 per cent for 50 to 64 year olds(CSO, 2007c: 23).