STAFF throwing a sicky are estimated to cost business an incredible £1.75 billion a year, according to figures just released by the Confederation of British Industry.

In its annual absence survey, it claims the overall cost of workplace absence remains worryingly high, although the number of days lost has actually fallen to its lowest level for five years.

But according to Dennis Grant, chief executive at Swin-don Chamber of Commerce, the issue continues to remain a major thorn in the side of Swindon's employers.

He said: "Ever since the Government of the time brought out the self-certification process, which meant an employee didn't require a doctor's note for the first seven days, sickies have become almost a way of life.

"And there's a pattern to them too.

"For instance, the Friday before a bank holiday Monday is a very preferred date, Christmas stands out like a sore thumb, and they always coincide with major sporting events."

The survey also reveals that 166 million days were lost to staff absences.

John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: "Though employers believe most absence is caused by genuine minor sickness, there are serious concerns about the number of staff throwing sickies.

"There are too many people who will happily spend the day off work at the expense of their employers and their hard working colleagues."

However, firms where senior managers are directly responsible for absence manage- ment suffer the least.

These organisations lose an average of five days per employee each year, with return-to-work interviews regarded as being the most effective absence management tool.

The survey also shows that manufacturing firms report high absence levels manual worker rates averaged 8.4 days per employee in 2002, compared with 5.5 days per employee for non-manual staff.

Not surprisingly, larger companies suffer higher absence levels than smaller firms, with businesses employing 5,000 staff or more, averaging 9.3 days per employee, while companies with less than 50 staff averaging 4.9 days.

Explained Dennis Grant: "Small business is hit hardest when it happens to them.

"Fortunately, the degree of loyalty in a small business is far greater than that in a larger business.

"But is isn't loyalty in the classic sense of the word it's the fact that if you're a member of a business, with only three or four people, and you're away, it's your colleagues who have to carry your workload.

"And that can spark all sorts of ill-feeling when you come back and they realise that maybe you weren't genuinely sick."

"In larger companies, where the size of the organisation means your work is more easily covered, then sickies have become almost routine."