COMPANIES LOSE AN average of 7.4 days a year per employee through sickness — costing roughly £740 each — according to Health Management, which helps organisations reduce the number of staff absences and improve productivity. The average days absent at the Ringmer, East Sussex-based firm is 4.14 for team members and just 0.82 for managers, and this is due in part to the fact that 80% of the 299 workers have signed up to an online service that assesses their physical and mental wellbeing. Staff are also encouraged to visit the firm's website to read advice on everything from giving up smoking to healthy eating and how to handle back pain. While team members work 35 hours a week, supervisors put in 39 and senior bosses 40, but they do not feel that work interferes with their responsibilities at home (73% positive, a result bettered by only nine others). All women are entitled to six weeks on full pay after having a baby and men can take a fortnight's paternity leave. Partners can also link this to their annual leave, allowing them to have up to a month off. Health Management recently supported two same-sex couples following the arrival of their babies, which meant approving leave of up to 14 months in one case. Employees do not feel they spend too much time working (63%, ranking 21st) and tell us that they are happy with the balance between their work and home life (67%). The company pays for two events per team each year, which could be lunch or an evening out bowling, and there are also regular inter-departmental get-togethers ranging from a curry and quiz night to greyhound racing, as well as Christmas and summer parties. To celebrate Health Management's 10th birthday last year, staff were taken to a surprise venue to enjoy food, drink and entertainment. As people left the venue they each received a jar of honey produced by managing director Andrew Noble's hive. Worker bees at the firm feel people in teams go out of their way to help them (82%) and that colleagues care for each other (83%). Fund-raising for good causes is matched by the company and every month there is a dress-down day and massages for which staff donate to an employee-nominated charity of the month. Health Management doubles the amount collected and is regarded as an organisation that puts enough back into the local community (68%, which is 25th). Staff say the organisation encourages charitable activities (85%) but it not just because it wants good publicity (62%).