Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources that provided information on the levels of discipline, grievance and sickness absence within the Council (excluding schools).

The report indicated that based on current records the total number of ‘available days’, from 1 April 2017 to 30 June 2017, was 151,508 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) days; that the total sickness absence, both long and short term, was 6,543 FTE days which equated to 4.32%; that  this comprised 1.46% short term and 2.86% long term absences; and that the overall Corporate target was 4% (short term 2.2%; long term 1.8%), and that this was a reduction compared to Q1 2016 which was 5.07%.

Annex 1 attached to the report illustrated departmental performance for the Quarter 1 period; whilst Annex 2 provided data across a period of 12 months to 30 June 2017 and therefore provided a wider analysis of absence levels across departments; but however, organisational change within Sefton would impact on making direct comparisons across departments.  Support was provided across all service areas and it should be noted that a number of service areas were showing a reduction in absence at this stage.     

The report also provided information on the reasons for absence and referral to the Health Unit in Quarter 1 2017; indicated that the Strategic Leadership Board (SLB) continued to monitor and encourage the reduction of levels of both short and long term absence; the Sickness Absence Policy that operated in partnership with trade unions to manage employee absence; and with regard to Disciplinary, Grievance And Capability issues, Annex 3 attached to the report provided a breakdown of formal cases for November 2016 to September 2017.

Members of the Committee asked questions/made comments on the following issues:-

·       Trends in the types of sickness absence i.e. mental health or musculoskeletal

·       The financial costs to the Council of not meeting the corporate sickness absence target

RESOLVED: That