Attendance Management Environment Directorate

National Picture CIPD – Annual Survey – 2005 –Average sickness in Public Sector 4% or 10.3 days –83% of Organisations have sick pay scheme that covers 1 st 3 days – 15% do not. –Public Sector continue to pay Occupational sick Pay for the longest period –Reasons for Reduction in absence: Tightened Policies Changes in recording method Increased Management Buy-in Changes in work organisation Changes in number of long term absences

National Picture continued Employers Organisation – Sickness Absence in local Government – Survey 2003/2004 –Sickness Absence in Local Government 5.1% = 11.7 days –Average in: Manual Occupations 6.8% Non- Manual 4.9% CBI – Private Sector 3.2% = 7.2 days –Controlling Absence: Robust data collection Comprehensive Policies and Procedures Building a culture of communicating cost of sickness etc

National Picture continued

Policy Health and Well Being of our Employees is a key element Interests of the City Council Ensure that appropriate preventative measures are developed and implemented

Policy Continued Directorate supports the changes to the Policy All managers are aware of responsibility for monitoring and managing sickness The alternative Employment Procedure is welcomed and provides an effective framework Managers Guidelines enhance the managers toolkit

Directorate Sickness Attendance taken seriously in the Directorate – Trading Activities. Actions taken: –Training / Briefing Sessions provided for managers –HR support to managers on stage process –Revised procedure for reporting absence –Sickness reported monthly to service managers –Sickness reported to Directorate Management Team Quarterly

Directorate Sickness 2003/2004 – 7% or 18.2 days lost 2004/2005 – 6.02% or days –Reduction of 0.92% or 682 days (3.41 staff) July 04 – June 05 ( last 12 months) – 5.42% or days lost ( excludes new services ) –Reduction of 1.58% on 2003/2004 or 1808 days (9 staff)

Directorate Sickness Continued: At 1 st July no. staff on sickness stage –54 Stage 1 –30 Stage 2 –3 Stage 3 6 Members of staff left the Authority

Summary –Reasons for Reduction in absence: Tightened Policies Changes in recording method Increased Management Buy-in Changes in work organisation Changes in number of long term absences –Sickness is reducing The Directorate has expanded The absence rate for July 04 to June 05 with the new services is 3.8%, which is 0.6% lower than the national average