Issue - meetings

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report on Sickness Absence levels in terms of the short and long term during 2015/16 and outlined current and proposed initiatives to reduce absence.  The Human Resources Officer provided a summary of the report and the statistics provided.  She referred Members to corrected replacement pages 107 to 114 and page number 127 which had been circulated separately.

The Chairman referred to musculoskeletal, mental health and back pain absences and queried whether this was work related.  He suggested that Officers investigate this and report back.  This was supported. 

In response to a query from Councillor S Bull regarding support to staff suffering from cancer, the Head explained how the Absence Management Policy (elsewhere on the agenda), now allowed managers more discretion in dealing with absence issues at an earlier stage and now incorporated guidance on managing employees / family members with cancer and critical illnesses and providing them with ongoing support. 

In response to a query from Councillor P Ruffles regarding the point at which the Council decided that it could no longer support a member of staff because of illness and their inability to do their job, the Head explained the Council’s pay policy for those affected by a critical illness.  The Head explained the ongoing work which was being done in terms of the promotion of health and wellbeing.

Members noted the sickness absence report and supported the retention of  the sickness absence management targets as follows:

·        4.5 days (FTE) for short term absence,

·        2 days (FTE) for long term absence ; and

·        6.5 days FTE total sickness absence.

RESOLVED – that (A) the sickness absence targets as now detailed be agreed; and

(B)   musculoskeletal and mental health targets be reviewed to established whether these were work related.