Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director - Corporate Services and Commercial

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial that provided information on the levels of discipline, grievance, dignity at work and sickness absence within the Council (excluding schools).

The report indicated that the management of the workforce was an important activity to ensure outcomes for Sefton’s communities were achieved and to ensure that the workforce was appropriately managed and motivated. Specific information was provided on:

• Disciplinary, Grievance and Dignity at Work – The organisation enjoyed a comparatively good level of cases and this reflected on the whole, both the good overall industrial relations environment, the partnership approach that was undertaken and also the work undertaken within departments. HR had a business partner model that was industry best practice and HR worked across departmental management teams to facilitate this partnership working. The Council had clear and agreed processes in place for consistency across the Council

·       Suspensions - In the period August 2024 to January 2025, 7 employees were suspended from duty within central Service Areas (excluding schools)

• Disciplinaries - During the period August 2024 – January 2025, there had been 14 disciplinary investigations
• Grievances - During the period August 2024 – January 2025, there had been 3 Grievances
• Dignity at work - During the period August 2024 – January 2025, there had been 3 dignity at work complaints
• Statistical data for Q1and Q2 2024/2025 (01.04.24 – 30.06.24 and 01.07.24 - 30.09.24). The information detailed ‘Short Term’, ’Long Term’ and ‘All Absence’ data along with previous year’s figures for comparison purposes
• Occupational Health referrals - Excluding schools, the reasons for referral to occupational health during Quarter 1 and 2 of 2024/25 were detailed
• Initiatives undertaken by the Council which included the Strategic Leadership Board continuing to monitor and encourage the reduction of levels of both short and long-term absence; the Occupational Health Unit providing Counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) on a face-to-face basis. In addition, a specific type of CBT known as Eye Movement Desensitisation, was also available if declared appropriate by the OH physicians. Telephone and video call appointments could be arranged if that was the preferred method for individual; and physiotherapy appointments being arranged through the OH Unit as were pension assessments for ill health, ill health pension appeals and deferred pension cases
• Managing Absence - the Council’s Sickness Absence Policy which operated in a partnership with trade unions; and both the trade unions and management recognised the need for correct management of sickness absence to provide appropriate support to lessen the demands on employees who remained at work.

• Managing Absence  he Council’s Sickness Absence Policy which operated in a partnership with trade unions; and both the trade unions and management recognised the need for correct management of sickness absence to provide appropriate support to lessen the demands on employees who remained at work.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

• The number of employees with long-term disabilities
• How employees are supported into different roles from their current position
• The numbers of staff remotely working
• The availability of holistic programmes for staff to support their mental health and wellbeing and the access to counselling services
• The uptake of health checks by staff
• The use of “wellbeing champions” in the workplace
• The use of mental health first-aiders in the workplace

·       Benchmarking Sefton’s sickness statistics against similar local authorities

·       How differing leadership styles of managers could impact sickness absence levels, or the numbers of grievances being lodged 

RESOLVED:

That the report on the levels of discipline, grievance, dignity at work and sickness absence within the Council (excluding schools) be noted.