Employees who are managed well are less likely to take unnecessary sick days.

That is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which has suggested that it is important for employers to “manage people properly” to maximise productivity.

Ben Willmott, senior public policy advisor at the CIPD recognised that employees do get ill and in these instances it is important to “have a common sense approach to illness”.

Mr Willmott suggested that there was a strong link between motivation and a healthy workforce.

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He said: “If people have a manager that manages them properly, consults with them and gives them clear objectives and gives them good feedback etc then they’re more likely to be motivated and committed and they are less likely to take time off sick unnecessarily.”

FirstCare suggests that employers should aim to be more transparent with their workforce as employees suffer stress and worry because of “fear and uncertainty”.