Royal Mail says 10,000 staff are off work at any time

The company will have 34 new Ford Focus cars to give away, as well as holiday vouchers and weekend breaks.

Royal Mail says 10,000 out of 170,000 operational staff are off work at any one time - costing millions annually.

Postal union the CWU said rather than "gimmicks," the company should tackle root causes such as poor conditions.

MAIL ABSENTEEISM 10,000 out of 170,000 staff absent at any given time The cars and holidays will cost the company at least �540,000 Average Royal Mail worker has 12 sick days a year, five more than the national average

Reward

The scheme runs from the beginning of August until 31 January next year.

If postal workers are not off sick in that period their names will automatically be entered into the draw for one of the cars.

A similar incentive scheme will be offered to managers but no date has been fixed.

Royal Mail says absenteeism is hampering efforts to improve business and hopes the idea will pay for itself, even though the cars alone will cost around �400,000.

Royal Mail have got this all the wrong way around Paul, Essex Have Your Say

CWU deputy leader Dave Ward said it was not against people being rewarded for their efforts, but Royal Mail needed to get to the root of the problem of sickness and absenteeism.