8 December 2004 - Whitehall task force announces action to tackle public sector sickness absence
A key cross Whitehall task force set up to tackle public sector sickness absence announced its first recommendations today. The Ministerial Taskforce for Health, Safety and Productivity, was set up to work with the Health and Safety Commission and Executive (HSC/E) to deliver targets for reducing days lost through sickness absence in the public sector.
Public sector sickness absence is on average 10 days per person. The Taskforce’s aim is to reduce absence to 7.5 days per person which would mean the equivalent of 7,000 additional employees available to deliver essential public services.
Led by Minister for Work Jane Kennedy, the Ministerial Taskforce together with the Cabinet Office reviewed long term sickness absence in the public sector and self-certification of short term absence in the civil service. The taskforce recommended a number of pilot initiatives to be tested across the Civil Service. These include:
- Instigating action, based on checks for persistent short term absence;
- Bringing in Occupational Health experts to help staff with absences over a certain number of days in a 12 month period, to pick up early signs of longer term problems and issues;
- A requirement for daily phone calls to the office when unexpectedly off sick for short periods; and
- Challenging people who self certificate for more than 5 working days at a time.
Ministers are committed to key findings in the report ‘Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector’ which include:
- secure sustained commitment from managers at the top level;
- deliver the right data and systems to support better attendance management;
- provide leadership and support for line managers; and
- ensure regular and supportive contact for those who are absent due to sickness.
A pilot project already under way in the Department for Work and Pensions backs up the reports’ findings on early support. Initial feedback from the pilot showed working days lost through sick leave fell by almost 3 days when Occupational Health professionals worked closely with line managers.
Jane Kennedy, Minister for Work and chair of the Taskforce said:
“Staff are a public service’s most valuable asset and need to be properly supported to stay healthy. More needs to be done to cut the rate of public sector sickness absence and we believe this can be achieved by having the right systems in place. Employers should take the health of their staff as seriously as their safety, taking professional advice from GPs when necessary. I have asked HSE to lead the work with my department and the Cabinet Office to draw up a delivery plan.”
Cabinet Office Minister Ruth Kelly said:
“Every modern organisation has a duty to take absence management seriously: a duty to its staff, who deserve to be treated fairly when off sick and helped to return to work when sensible to do so; and a duty to its shareholders/the tax payer to minimise unnecessary absence. The civil service is no exception here. Our recommendations constitute good modern management practice. We need to see them through and will ensure that there are processes to monitor departmental progress, and identify where further action is needed.”
The Task Force, supported by HSE, will complete an implementation plan in consultation with stakeholders. It will remain in place for two years to oversee delivery of the report’s recommendations.
Notes for editors
- In the Spending Review 2004 announcement, the Chancellor asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to review the management of long term sickness absence in the public sector. This work is being led by the Health, Safety and Productivity Ministerial taskforce. The Chancellor also asked the Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office to review the management of short term sickness absence in the Civil Service. This report brings together two strands of work in a joint review.
- Further information can be obtained from: www.hse.gov.uk/gse/sickness.pdf
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