WORKERS across the South East are taking more days off sick--or claiming to be sick.

A survey for the CBI has shown absenteeism from the workplace at its highest level for five years.

The survey of more than 500 firms showed three-quarters of companies suspect employees of taking "unwarranted" long-weekends by calling in sick on Fridays or Mondays.

Seventy eight per cent of firms said there was either a definite or possible link between patterns of absence and the unauthorised extension of the weekend.

The survey also reveals that employers fear 25 million days were lost last year through staff taking dodgy sick days. That accounts for 15 per cent of all absence at a cost of £1.75bn.

The total number of working days lost to absence has increased for the first time since 1998, caused by an eight per cent rise in service sector absence.

Nigel Bourne, the CBI’s South East Regional Director, said: "Firms understand that the majority of absence is due to genuine minor sickness. But absence is a serious and expensive concern that is on the increase.

"This rise has been caused by a growing level of service sector absence that may be the direct result of the tough year endured by the sector. As costs rose in 2003, many services firms were forced to slim down and conduct the same amount of work with fewer staff. This would have increased pressure on employees and possibly affected morale, leading to an increase in absence.

"Unwarranted leave is taking its toll on the UK's ability to absorb the enormous cost of absence with £1.75bn being added to last year's absence bill."

KM-fm spoke to Alison Whitmore, business manager for a Kent branch of Blue Arrow, about what she thought about the problem...