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Council Sick Days Cost Tax-Payers Millions

Tuesday September 27 2011

COUNCIL staff took almost 100,000 sick days last year in a move that cost the authority more than £7 million.

A report that is to be considered by councillors this week suggests an overhaul of the sickness and absence policies after the data reveals that each worker, on average, took about ten days off sick each last year. Based on the lost working days and the average salary for staff, the cost to the council is thought to top £7.3 million.

The worst department for sickness records was schools, where staff had 49,856 days off sick - more than 16,000 more than the year before. Council officers decreased their number of sickness days (48,981) and the biggest reason being given for sickness for all absences was anxiety, stress or depression.

The council also had to fork out a further £500,000 for employee accidents - there was 283 incidents recorded which led to 472 working days lost.

The number of accidents and days lost as a result have significantly fallen however from 835 in 1999, a 66 per cent improvement which led to an 82 per cent decrease in days lost per employee due to accidents.

The decision-making cabinet will discuss this issue this week.

What do you think the council should do about sick pay? Have your say by writing in the box below.
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9 Showing 9 comments
Reply Posted by Neil on Tuesday September 27 2011 at 11:17
When the " power obsessed  " chief,s at the top stop treating there staff as "robotic form fillers " then you will have an ongoin problem, Treat people as YOU would expect to be treated,trust me,it works.
Reply Posted by Trub on Wednesday September 28 2011 at 09:04
schools are breeding grounds for germs and viruses!!!
Reply Posted by Bowler279 on Wednesday September 28 2011 at 10:56
stop paying them for "sick" days off most folk have to stand so many days before they get any sick pay & then the amount is very little so you wanna get bac to wrk to earn better wages
Reply Posted by Laura on Wednesday September 28 2011 at 13:02
So to sum up the report. Schools have increasing sickness rates.  The rest of the Council workers had less sick days and less accidents than the previous year.  So all in all a good news story for the 8,000 or so Council workers and not so good for the 2,000 or so school workers. Hmmmm it's amazing what a "spin" can be placed on reporting figures isn't it?
Reply Posted by Guestymcguest on Thursday September 29 2011 at 14:17
Pretty much a none story then, council workers are having less days off than they did a year ago. Brilliant, It's almost as good as some of the tripe the chronicle has been peddling out last couple of years. Why let good journalism get in the way of gossip mongering.
Reply Posted by on Thursday September 29 2011 at 15:50
Hi Guesty, no, as the piece says council workers (in schools) have had 16,000 extra days off sick this year in comparison to the year before. Not gossip mongering, taken from an official council report. Hope this helps.
Reply Posted by on Thursday September 29 2011 at 15:54
Laura - I would say the story is more about the number of sick days and the cost to the council....accurately reported from an official report. Thanks for your time! For your interest: the actual stat is
Council Departments• 48,981 days lost (decrease from 2009/2010 of 1,796 days (3.5%)) 
 
School figures 
• 49,856 days lost (increase from 2009/2010 of 16,161 days (48%)) 
 For your information, the full report is here http://www.barnsley.gov.uk/0xac16000b%200x0055fcf1
Reply Posted by nicky on Thursday September 29 2011 at 16:49
Hi Guesty, no, as the piece says council workers (in schools) have had 16,000 extra days off sick this year in comparison to the year before. Not gossip mongering, taken from an official council report. Hope this helps.
Reply Posted by H Chadwick732 on Saturday October 29 2011 at 10:49
where do you get these stats from - i am finding it difficult to find these from eg council source on internet, any help much appreciated

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