Stress leading to more sick days in public sector

Stress-related absence levels have increased in the past year and are the main cause of long-term absenteeism in the public sector.

Workers in the public sector took an average of 9.6 days off sick a year, three more than employees in private firms, according to figures to be released today.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development say the cost of public sector absence was almost 900 per worker every year, 300 more than the average across British industry, the study of over 500 employers found. More than one in three employers said stress-related absence had increased over the past year.

Dr Jill Miller, a CIPD adviser, said: "Compared with the private sector, more public sector employees are in challenging public facing roles where they often have to deal with people in difficult and emotionally charged situations, putting pressure on their time and resilience.

"Organisational change is a major cause of stress and will only increase in the future as a consequence of the recent comprehensive spending review."