Tesco has launched a pilot scheme to cut back on sick days that refuses to pay for the first three days of sickness absence.

The UK's largest employer is also piloting two other separate schemes designed to reduce absenteeism.

One scheme rewards staff with an exemplary attendance record with an extra three days' holiday. For every day off sick, they lose one of these days of holiday.

Yet another scheme gives them reward vouchers for not taking time off sick.

Research by the Health and Safety Executive and Personnel Today magazine has shown that 51% of HR professionals think that around half of days taken off are bogus.