35% of Jersey respondents said it was a “big worry”, which was either increasing or a significant issue.

Another 53% said they were “concerned” but “actively managed” the issue.  

Only 13% said it was not a concern. 

Pictured: Around one in three respondents said they were looking at reviewing their sickness policies.

Results for Guernsey respondents were similar, with 16% saying they it was not a problem. 

Daniel Read, a partner at Walkers specialising in employment law, said the employers needed to “actively and consistently manage absences”. 

They needed to make sure they had the appropriate medical evidence and look at reasonable adjustments when the employee returns to work, he added. 

“In a competitive labour market, early engagement and intervention with employees is key to managing absences and successfully bringing employees back into the workplace.  

“All too often, issues are left until the absence has become a problem.” 

Pictured: Sarah Ash and Daniel Read from law firm Walkers.

Companies were looking at ways to tackle the issue, with 80% of respondents saying they were running internal training for managers.

More than a third said they were reviewing contractual documentation and sickness absence policies and procedures, as well as undertaking reviews of their wellbeing programmes.

57% said that not understanding an employee’s health condition or how to manage it in the workplace was a challenge.

Sarah Ash, a partner in Walkers’ Guernsey employment law team, added: “Local employers should be prioritising training their workforce and updating their policies and procedures to actively mitigate the legal risks in this area.”