UK Business Sniffy Over Advert

CHAN:
A row has erupted in the UK over an advertisement for a cold remedy which suggests having a sick day off work. The ad even offers advice on what to tell the boss when calling in sick and reviews the best DVDs to watch while at home.


STORY:
It's a dilemma most workers have faced - does a nasty cold warrant a day off.

The advertising firm employed to promote the cold remedy Benylin clearly knows where it stands.

[James Whitehead, Director, JWT Media]:
"Take a Benylin Day' is a responsible call to tell people to behave with common sense really, to take one or two days off and break the sickness cycle."

But many employers in Britain are furious about the ad and the Federation of Small Businesses spoke for many.

[Stephen Alambritis, Federation of Small Business]:
"If you look at the advert in conjunction with the website by Benylin then that talks about how to throw a sickie, how to email in, which videos to watch if you're bored taking your 'Benylin Day' and we think the two combined make very light of a very serious subject."

Absence from work costs the UK economy 13 billion pounds every year - that's almost 20 billion dollars.

[Stephen Alambritis, Federation of Small Business]:
"We don't think the Benylin advert is a piece of fun because of the strap-line 'Take a Benylin Day'. If that takes root in the English dictionary, rather like 'Take a Duvet day', then we do believe that that may cause some problems for employers."

But the advertising agency has hit back with statistics.

They say in a recent survey almost three out every four employers said they'd rather their staff kept their germs away from the office.

[Lucy Davey]:
"I tend to think it's not worth going into work. I've done that once before and it drags out the cold."

[Andy Smith]:
"Generally I take a lot of flu drugs and try and get a lot of sleep, and rest, and that's it but I don't take time off sick."

The ad has now been referred to the Advertising Standards Authority which will rule on the issue.

Category:

News & Politics

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