Stresses and strains 'not taken seriously'

The TUC claimed reports giving the impression that widespread reasons for absence such as depression, musculoskeletal or cardio-respiratory problems are "not serious", were "misleading at best".

In its own report published today, entitled 'Sicknote Britain?', the TUC said: "Unions are particularly concerned about attempts to minimise the significance of these conditions because they are precisely the commonest problems caused or exacerbated by work.

"Official figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that 2.3 million people say they have a condition caused or made worse by their current or previous work."

The report highlighted the number of workers affected in the UK, such as musculoskeletal disorders - 1,126,000, stress, depression or anxiety - 563,000, breathing and lung problems, including asthma - 168,000 and hearing problems, including deafness and tinnitus - 87,000.

It argued that such high incidence must not be seen as sign that these conditions were not a serious problem - describing this as a "peculiar way of looking at the world".

Instead, it called for a system that "puts the prevention of illness and disease first, then offers high quality rehabilitation, with (incapacity) benefits only existing as a general fall-back when all else has failed.

'Urban myth'

Overall, the TUC described claims that Britain had become a nation of malingerers as a "myth". Its report highlighted figures showing that British workers were less likely to take short-term time off sick than workers in any other European country, except for Denmark.

It added that most employers accepted that their staff only took time off work when they were genuinely ill. A much bigger problem was the high number of people who struggled into work when they were ill, spreading germs among colleagues and threatening long-term absence.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Sicknote Britain is an urban myth. We take less time off than most other countries, and public sector staff are less likely to take time off for a short-term illness.

"When employers complain of sicknote Britain, they are attacking some of Europe's most loyal employees. Those who've been trying to make cheap political points about getting tough with the 'work-shy spongers' are completely missing the point.

"People on incapacity benefit have very genuine problems which make it very difficult for them to take the majority of jobs on offer."

Government role

The TUC report recommended that the Government take the lead in improving Britain's workplace rehabilitation system, working alongside various stakeholders including unions, employers, occupational health specialists and insurers.

"Where a worker becomes ill or injured getting her/him back to health as soon as possible should be the first objective, with the injured person being referred for treatment as quickly as possible, with the preferred aim of a return to work," said the report.

"But this is a shift that can only happen if the Government plays a full role. Ultimately the Government will need to provide incentives for the stakeholders to work towards this end. And only the Government can build the rehabilitation infrastructure that would buttress such an approach."

The report 'Sicknote Britain?' can be downloaded in Word document format from the TUC website - see link above/right.