EMPLOYERS must take steps to ensure they have sickness policies in place because short-term absences are increasing as concern over the swine flu outbreak continues, a North-East employment expert has warned.

A recent survey showed absence rates towards the end of last week were running at as much as 27 per cent above normal as employees with cold symptoms become much more cautious. The impact on business through employees taking time off amid the swine flu panic is estimated to be as much as £1.5bn a day.

After the first case of swine flu was diagnosed in the North- East last week, in Newcastle, law firm Sintons warned employers to take steps to protect themselves in the event of a wave of absences.

Keith Land, partner in the employment law unit of Newcastle- based Sintons, said: “It is unclear whether or not the country is in the grips of a flu pandemic. The reports as to both scale and effect tend to vary. What is clear though is that, as usual, the public react badly to such news which in turn can have an effect on employee absenteeism.”

Mr Land said employers faced with a lot of short-term sickness absence should:

● Ensure all staff comply with employer’s rules on self certification of absence;

● Carry out return to work interviews with employees. If an absence has to be explained face to face, it will make some employees think twice about whether or not to stay off work;

● Consider the terms of sick pay schemes. Not all employees automatically get company sick pay. There are many employees who get statutory sick pay only and, generally, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will not pay out for absences of less than three days. While being careful not to encourage long absences, strict adherence to SSP may make staff think carefully about taking the odd day off;

● Communicate fully to their employees the employer’s policies and procedures to make sure that employees understand how absences will be regarded.

Mr Land added: “Some have predicted a cost to the economy in lost business arising out of flu-related absences of £1.5bn per day.

“This is a figure not to be sniffled at – pun intended – and on top of other economic pressures facing many businesses, it is something which employers should try to prevent.”