Username:
Password:
Forgot Password?

The cost of the common sickie
Print this Article Print this Article
Email this Article

9 May 2007 
 
Absenteeism costs the public and private sectors $7 billion every year.  
 
At a presentation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Business Forum in Perth Dr Andrew Jeremijenko, Chief Health & Medical Officer Woodside Energy rated employee wellbeing as the single most important factor that business should focus on. 
 
Dr Jeremijenko revealed that stress is the biggest health risk to business. 
 
The workplace is where the biggest costs related to stress are incurred in the form of health-care expenses, absenteeism and "presenteeism" - employees showing up for work in body but not in spirit. 
Work-life conflict - stress that arises when work and family clash, costs Australian businesses around $7 billion a year said Dr Jeremijenko. Those costs are either direct (paying absent workers) or indirect (training replacements). 
“The costs of employers failing to value people’s health are huge. Big business tends to underestimate the cost of unhealthy employees,” Dr Jeremijenko said.  
 
Stress can lead to fatigue, lack of concentration, poor health, low morale, personal problems, insecurity, poor attitude and in some cases, suicide. 
 
Dr Jeremijenko believes that there are many measures that managers can put in place to deal with stress in staff.  
 
What can the manager do to manage stress? 

  • Recognise stress
  • Recognise staff efforts
  • Prioritise work / be realistic
  • Say ‘no’ to unrealistic targets
  • Be approachable and listen
  • Be sensitive
  • Look for solutions
  • Communicate clearly
 
 
Dr Jeremijenko believes that preventing stress is more affective than managing it. Many employees believe that to ‘prevent employee stress’ is not a realistic goal, says Jeremijenko.  
Companies need to consistently focus on taking measures to reduce stress. “One key aspect of stress reduction is ensuring that employees and managers are provided with the skills and tools needed to perform their roles successfully. Emphasis on skills such as time management, effective listening, handling the difficult discussion, putting the customer first and situational leadership equips employees with the confidence to maintain a positive work environment and to reduce anxiety in new and unfamiliar situations.  
While a stress-free workplace remains a utopian situation, organisations can only make efforts to reduce its impact. Dr Jeremijenco concludes, “Stress is inevitable, call it the bane of any life form. Acknowledging that it exists, is half the battle won. Attacking it, improves the chances the rest of the war can won! And finally, preventing it means never being at war in the first place!”