Businesses could be hit with 70% reduced workforce following August bank holiday, CharlieHR warns

Businesses could face up to a 70% reduced workforce after the August bank holiday, as sick days rose by 73% after the May bank holiday, according to CharlieHR. 

Ben Gateley, CEO and co-founder of CharlieHR, noted that this could put staffing and productivity under pressure for small firms.

Gateley said: “With the August bank holiday approaching, businesses could see a rise in sickness absence as employees return to work after the long weekend. 

“The previous May bank holiday found that sick days rose by 73%, so businesses should be prepared for a similar increase in absence and potential workforce disruption.

“For small businesses, this can quickly become costly, with each sickness absence day estimated to cost around £120 in lost profit.”

Gateley added: “However, despite the financial and productivity impact a sick day can have on small businesses, managers shouldn’t assume that one sick day over the bank holiday is a cause for concern. 

“Instead, managers and business owners should identify recurring patterns and monitor the frequency before approaching this as a cause for concern with the employee.”