Better bill of health

Although greatly improved, the average number of days lost due to reports of sickness is expected to come in at over ten days when the official figures are examined in detail.

That is an average per person of two working weeks off on the sick per year although a figure of 54 was given for the number of staff at Moyle Council with no sickness.

In the 2009-10 financial year there were 1,073 days lost through absenteeism compared to the 1,511 days lost in the 2008-09 year.

The situation for absenteeism was worse in 2007-08 at Moyle Council when the figure was 1,963 days.

The reduction of days lost between the last two financial years by 438 was 29 per cent and the reduction in lost days from 2008 was 890 which equated to 45 per cent over three years.

The average number of days lost due to sickness in 2007-08 amongst Moyle Council staff was 18.2 and in 2008-09 it was 14.67 but for 2009-10 it is expected to be approximately ten or eleven days.

SDLP councillor Madeline Black congratulated Council staff for putting in hard work to get an improvement in the absenteeism but Council Vice-Chair, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP) blasted: “It was long overdue”.

The combined cost of days lost through sickness and the cost of cover for the 2007-08 was around 240,000. In 2008-09 it was around 155,000 and in the financial year just finished it was around the same.

A Council report on the matter said it was important to praise employees with no sickness throughout the years. In 07-08 there were 36; in 08-09 there were 48 and in 09-10 the figure was 54.

The Council report said: ‘Overall it is very pleasing to note that for the third year in a row the level of absenteeism has significantly reduced.

‘Over the last year the new Attendance Improvement Policy has been introduced and training has been delivered to all employees.

‘All employees are now aware of their responsibilities when sick and the management of sickness continues to be a priority for Council.

‘Moyle District Council has met its target of less than 12 average working days lost per employee for the period 1 April 09 - 31 March 10. It is therefore proposed that the target for the forthcoming years should be reduced to 11 average working days lost with the cost of cover being kept to a minimum.

‘The top three causes of absence were: musculoskeletal - 26 per cent; Back and neck problems - 19 per cent; Stress, depression, mental health and fatigue syndromes - 18 per cent,’ said the report.

Last year an official government document on absenteeism in the 26 councils in Northern Ireland said Moyle Council had the highest recorded increase in average absenteeism for the three year periods comparing 2006-09 and 2003-06.