PORKER FLU-A NEW EXCUSE FOR “SICKIES”

Thousands of Britons are using swine flu as an excuse to take days off sick from work, the latest figures show.

Flu-related absences have increased by almost 30 per cent within two days and experts fear that the number will rise further after the bank holiday weekend.

The disclosure came as the first two cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus within Britain were confirmed.

Absence figures show that as many as 26,500 people took the day off on Thursday, complaining of coughs, colds and other flu-like symptoms.

The number of absences was 18 per cent higher than the 22,700 which would normally be expected at this time of year.

This was the day after the first two British cases were confirmed and the World Health Organisation raised its alert level to five out of six, indicating that a pandemic is imminent.

Friday's figure was 27 per cent above average with 21,500 – as fewer people normally go sick on the Friday before May Day bank holiday – experts said.

It is feared that the sharp rise in people taking "sickies" will cost the British economy millions of pounds.

Aaron Ross, chief executive of absence management experts FirstCare, which carried out the survey based on figures from 1,000 companies, said: "What seems to be happening is that people are taking symptoms more seriously than normal.

"It has to be remembered that all absence from work comes at a cost to employers and to other employers as well.

We should all work to reduce absence from work, and get in place good occupational health facilities.

"We don't want to go back to being the sick man of Europe. I would appeal to people to think about those who are left behind when they take a day off."

He said that a pandemic would devastate British business, with 25 per cent of the working population staying at home. This would cost the UK economy up to £1.5 billion per day.
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“We are at war between consciousness and nature, between the desire for permanence and the fact of flux. It is ourself against ourselves.” Alan Watts



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