Managers are not taking time off work when they are ill, according to research published by the Chartered Management Institute and Simplyhealth.

The ‘Quality of Working Life’ report reveals that 17% of managers believe their health is deteriorating, 42% claim illness rates in their organisation have gone up over the past year and only 53% of employees feel they would be treated sympathetically if they were ill.

The report found that only 36% of respondents claim to be operating ‘at or near peak productivity’, with 67% claiming their productivity was reduced by ill-health.

It found that 71% of managers suggest that ill-health reduced ‘enjoyment of their job’ and although 55% say their ‘organisation is committed to employee well-being’, only 46% agree that their line-manager cares specifically about their health.

Jo Causon, director, marketing and corporate affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, says: “While many employers bemoan the cost of absence to their organisations, they fail to see the damage done by creating a culture where illness is seen as a weakness. The risk of mistakes or spreading sickness surely outweighs the short-term benefits of someone turning up for work when not fully fit.”

The report also revealed that  45% of managers suggest productivity is affected by long hours and 48% think it restricts opportunities for professional development.