Monday 19 March 2012
Many small and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders are risking burnout and ill health as they battle absence to keep businesses afloat, a new report has claimed.
Some 40 per cent of entrepreneurs said they continue to work from their sickbeds, because there is nobody else available to take over from them if they are ill.
Of those business leaders questioned by Bupa, 31 per cent said their business would collapse if they were to take time off.
Tony Wood, sales and marketing director at the health organisation, said small business bosses are "real troupers".
"They are totally committed to running their firms in sickness as well as health," he stated.
"However they need to think about how to take care of their health needs and those of their staff, as working through sickness isn't a long-term solution for anyone."
But while entrepreneurs are coming into work through thick and thin, employee absence is seen by many to be a major problem for SMBs.
Some 62 per cent of SMBs say staff illness is negatively affecting their business, as absenteeism affects productivity.
Of those surveyed, 46 per cent said absence contributes to a drop in turnover of up to ten per cent.
Posted by Sarah Parish