Issue - meetings

The Interim Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report which set out employee absence levels, analysed short and long term sickness absence for the period April 2017 – March 2018 and which outlined current and proposed initiatives to reduce absence.

The Head stated that the Council’s sickness absence in 2017/18 (6.1 days per FTE) was well below the national local authority average (8.1 days) and lower than the Council’s target (6.5 days).  This figure had increased slightly since the previous year (5.9 days in 2016/17).

The Council’s short term sickness absence in 2017/18 (3.1 days per FTE) was significantly lower than the Council’s target (4.5 days).  This figure had fallen since the previous year (3.2 days in 2016/17).

Members were advised that the 2017/18 long term sickness absence was 3.1 days per FTE which was well below the national local authority average of 4.1 days.  This figure had increased slightly since the previous year and for the second year running had not met the Council’s target for long term sickness.

The Interim Head stated that managers were supporting employees on long term sickness with counselling or referrals to Occupational Health and adjustments to their work/workplace to assist with returning to work.  Members were advised that the most common reason (43% of absences) for long term sickness absence was due to acute medical conditions (e.g. stroke, heart attack or cancer).

The Chairman commented on the introduction of mental health first aiders.  Councillor S Cousins referred to the benefits of a less stressful working environment.  Councillor P Ruffles referred to the impacts of stress and long term conditions such as cancer on the mental health of Officers.  The Committee Chairman also commented that, as short term sickness had not reached 4.0 FTE since 2013/14, the Council’s target could be reduced from 4.5 days per FTE to 4.0 days.

Councillor Mrs R Cheswright proposed and Councillor S Cousins seconded, a motion that the Council should lower the short term sickness absence target to 4 days per FTE and therefore the target for total sickness absence would be reduced to 6 days FTE.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the recommendations were declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the sickness absence report be noted; and

(B)   the absence management target for short term sickness absence be reduced to 4 days per FTE and the total sickness absence target be reduced to 6 days per FTE.