Issue - meetings

The Head of People and Property Services submitted a report on absence levels and an analysis of short and long term sickness for 2013/14.  The report also considered current and proposed initiatives to reduce absence.

The Head of People and Property Services drew Members’ attention to the comparative overview of sickness absence since 2009/10.  To date, the Council showed a total of 5.89 days against a target of 7.5 days.  It was noted that short term absence had increased in 2013/14 from 4.5 days to 4.6 days but there had been a decrease in long term absence from 1.70 days to 1.26 days.  The Head of People and Property Services provided a breakdown of short term and long term sickness by reason and service headcount.  She advised Members that staff who had referred to stress and depression as a reason for sickness, were immediately referred to Occupational Health.

The Head of People and Property Services referred to comparative figures on home workers and office based staff sickness absence which in 2013/14 had shown no differential between the two groups (home workers 4.8 days per FTE compared to 4.71 days for office based staff).  She stated that it was common to expect to see a reduction in sickness absence for home workers but that this had not been the case for East Herts.  Members supported the suggestion that home workers’ sickness be reviewed.

The Head of People and Property Services provided a summary of the costs associated with Occupational Health and the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).  She referred to the new Absence Management Policy which had recently been introduced.

In response to a query from Councillor P Ruffles regarding age related sickness absence levels, the Head of People and Property Services confirmed that Human Resources (HR) did not collate age related sickness data.

Councillor A Warman suggested that it might be useful if staff were to have flu vaccinations to lessen the impact of sickness over the winter months.

The Head of People and Property Services reminded Members that targets for 2014/15 had been approved by Members on 16 April 2014 and that the Absence Management Policy had been recently rolled out.  In terms of stress related sickness cases, it was recommended that the Council should continue to support employees through the Employee Assistance Programme.  This was supported.  It was also noted that a programme to support Health and Wellbeing had been designed and would be delivered to managers and staff in 2014/15.

The Committee noted the report and the approved the actions now proposed.

RESOLVED – that (A) sickness absence be noted;

(B)       employees suffering from stress related sickness continue to be supported through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); and

(C)       home workers’ sickness absence data be reviewed and reported back to Members.