CHIEF Minister Allan Bell has ordered action on ‘unacceptably’ high levels of staff sickness in government departments.
His move came after figures released in Tynwald showed the cost of sickness absence across government rose to £13.7 million last year, up from £10.4 million in 2007-08.
The average number of sick days per member of staff was 8.4 days in 2010/11, compared to 8.1 days in the UK public sector and 6.5 days in the UK economy as a whole.
Of 9,582 staff, nine were off for more than 200 days last year, more than 800 were off sick for more than 21 days and 2,039 were on sick leave for between five and 20 days.
Mr Bell said the figures showed an ‘alarming increase’.
‘It gives me real cause for concern,’ he said.
He said he had asked Government’s Office of Human Resources to produce an action plan on the issue and to provide regular progress reports for the Council of Ministers.
Mr Bell said: ‘Members of the public will be rightly horrified at the extent and cost of sickness absence amongst government staff. It is simply unacceptable and we have to take steps to deal with the problem.
‘I’ve made no secret of my belief that the culture of government has to change, and this is one aspect of that. While the vast majority of our employees are very conscientious, and most cases of sickness absence will be genuine, there is real concern that the system is open to abuse by a minority who let down their colleagues as well as the taxpayer.’
Mr Bell added: ‘I hope that the responsible majority will welcome action in this area and that we can work with staff representatives and unions in understanding and tackling this issue.’
He said it was a problem right across government, although the situation in some departments was worse than others. ‘We’ve got find out what those problems are,’ he said.
Mr Bell said he did not know whether the probe into sickness absence would uncover any evidence of malingering – or indeed poor management. ‘I’m not pointing the finger of blame at anyone at this stage,’ he said.
In both 2009-10 and 2008-09, the cost of working days lost through sickness absence was estimated at £12 million. The figures were released in written reply to a Tynwald question from Zac Hall (Lib Van. Onchan).
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