British employees resent sick co-workers

Nine out of 10 British workers reportedly resent colleagues who are absent because of illness since it puts them under additional pressure.

The concerns were raised during a British survey on health-related issues conducted for the BBC.

Women were less tolerant of colleagues taking sick days, with 92 percent expressing annoyance because it meant they were busier, compared with 86 percent of men.

The Daily Mail said researchers also found two-thirds of the workers were concerned that alcohol plays too big a role in business and can have a bad impact on staff.

Older staff members were more worried about the effects of drinking than people 25-34. Three-quarters of the surveyed workers who were aged 55 or older said it was an issue that worried them, compared with 56 percent of the younger group.

According to the Confederation of British Industry, $23 billion is lost annually because of sickness absences, with back pain and stress among the most common complaints.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International