Illness Costs Employers

Employee absences inflict costs on businesses equal to 8.7 percent of payroll, according to a new study released recently. That’s the combined cost for both unplanned sick days and extended disability absences. On average, an employee takes 5.4 sick days per year. Workers paid by the hour rack up more sick days, on average, than salaried employees. Exempt employees take 3.9 unplanned sick days per year. Nonexempt salaried employees take 4.9 days. Nonunion hourly employees take 5.8 days, and union hourly employees take 7.3 days. Unplanned...