Agenda item

The Committee received information in relation to the Sickness Absence data for quarter 1 for 2016/17 as contained within the circulated report.

Members noted that whilst the Council’s sickness rate marginally increased from 9.4 average FTE days to 9.7FTE days in 2015/16 so did sickness across Councils in the rest of Wales and Neath Port Talbot has in fact improved its position on the All Wales benchmarking table moving from joint 7^th to 6^th in Wales.

It was observed that services with fewer than 100 employees see more of a fluctuation in sickness absence figures as single employees represent a higher percentage of the total figures of the team.

Members discussed that stress is cited as the main reason for long term sickness absence and work is ongoing into targeting strategies in relation to stress related absences. It was noted that this is in-keeping with a national trend of stress related absences. Members made reference to the importance of conducting staff appraisals which should enable managers to understand any issues being experienced by their staff members and provide an opportunity for an open and honest discussion.

Stomach related absences remain the main cause of short term absences which is consistent with previous years.

Members commented on the significant cost of covering sickness absence and how important it is that the issue is continually monitored by management and Elected Members; Members noted that the service report cards that are scrutinised provide a good opportunity for Members to consider sickness absence on a regular basis.

It was noted that Schools Support Staff are the largest group of staff but they are also the group of staff with the most significant increase in days lost to sickness absence. The Chair of the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Scrutiny Committee informed Members that the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning is undertaking a piece of work looking in detail at sickness absence in schools and is being continually monitored by the CYPE Scrutiny Committee. Members expressed their concern that sickness absence in schools has an effect on the education of our pupils and were pleased to observe that the CYPE Scrutiny Committee are making the monitoring of this a priority.

It was noted with disappointment that Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf’s sickness absence figures were not included in the graph giving the number of days lost to sickness absence per Local Authority.

Following scrutiny it was agreed that the report be noted and requested:

-        That the Committee receive an update on the work being done to combat short term sickness absence

-        That the figures for the cost of sick pay from 2012 be provided

-        That a presentation by the Long Term Sickness taskforce is presented to the Committee in the next meeting