Absenteeism down at Coleraine Council
Thursday, 25 September 2008
COLERAINE Borough Council has successfully managed to cut sickness absenteeism by about 300 days from last year, new statistics have revealed.
However the figure has only decreased by 6.15 per-cent and still stands at 4,364.80 absentee days.
The Council's Policy and Development committee monthly meeting was informed of the details by Anne Lennon from the Corporate Services Department last Tuesday (September 16).
The total number of days lost due to absence during 2006/07 were 4,651.07, compared to the 2007/07 total of 4,364.80 days lost.
Short-term sickness absence was reduced by 12.93 days (0.89 per-cent), with long-term absences seeing a 273.34 day reduction (8.5 per-cent).
The figures show that in 2006/07 overall short-term absences totalled 1,439.08 days, compared to this year's 1,426.15 days. Long-term absences in 2006/07 totalled 3,211.99 days, compared to 2,938.65 days for 2007/08.
Figures from the end of August show most absences are stress related. As a "caring employer" Anne said the council has introduced a number of strategies to cope with illness.
She outlined possible remedies to the problem including occupational health referrals, 'Carecall', where workers can speak to a professional about any problems they may have, and a health and well-being strategy. The 'Carecall' scheme is to be promoted on World Mental Health Day.
Further strategies to reduce stress related absences in the short-term were also mentioned in the presentation.
These included commitment from senior management to help reduce sickness absences and for line managers to proactively and rigorously manage these in line with the absence policy currently in place.
Long-term plans will focus on reviewing the current absence policy, promoting the 'Carecall' counselling service and identifying best practice within other councils and public sector organisations that may be adopted within Coleraine Borough Council. Absences are also to be kept on the monthly SMT meetings agenda.
Concluding the presentation, Anne Lennon said the figures demonstrate a reduction in absences overall but that the Council cannot be complacent in this matter.
She said: "We want to strive to reduce these figures further."
In the question and answer session following the presentation, Alliance Party Councillor Barney Fitzpatrick queried whether there were any figures relating to the leisure service, to which Anne replied that these were not available at this time.
Cllr Fitzpatrick also asked about sickness levels relating to teachers and what the administration aspect is like.
Mayor David Barbour said the figures presented were much higher than other organisations and that congratulations were in order as the policies seemed to be working.
MLA and SDLP Councillor John Dallat then queried where Coleraine Borough Council appeared in the league table of the 26 councils and was told the figures would be coming.
Cllr Dallat said the primary concern was that the right policies and practices are in place, particularly in the long-term. He said: "I am firmly in the belief that our workers give us good value for money."
Cllr Dallat told the council there is a prejudice about work absences, particularly from people who do not go to work themselves. He also said that as employers, they have a huge duty of care in this area.
Anne Lennon replied that they were looking at previous measures and suggested working with the health and well-being officer.
DUP Councillor Samuel Cole also addressed the meeting. He said people tend not to accept a culture that sees absences as normal and asked what overtime they had to cover for the absences.
He asked if, at this time of public and private sector clash, a work study paper had been drafted which would show contributing factors to reduction of stress levels at work.
In response to this query, Anne said it is about getting the balance right. Regarding overtime required, she said that sometimes short-term absences could be more disruptive, as they could often plan better for long-term absences.
Alderman Maura Hickey queried whether any research has been carried out regarding the stress found amongst councillors, who now have an even more demanding workload.
Anne Lennon replied that there has been no research to date but they would certainly look into the matter.
