Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Resources (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Director of Resources confirming the attendance management levels for 2017/18 financial year, and quarter one of 2018/19.

It was noted that attendance in quarter one for 2018/19 had improved and, inclusive of long term sickness, the total annual days lost per Full Time Equivalent (FTE) had improved on previous years and was the lowest since 2014/15.  Members were directed to section 3.8 of the report which addressed concerns previously raised on supporting Managers on dealing with absence.

Members stated they were pleased to see a reduction in the loss of days.  It was queried whether injury types (as laid out in figure 3.4 of the report) were localised to certain departments within the Council.  The Director of Resources confirmed for Members that there was no obvious link to work related injury, and it was also worth considering that significant changes in the workplace could impact levels of sickness across the authority.

The Director of Resources confirmed that although the figures from the previous year had been impacted by the flu pandemic, the Council had also implemented stronger internal controls.  This included an improvement in managing medium to long term sickness, reporting of short term sickness, looking at patterns of absence, provision of hand gels, changing the cleaning regime, and providing staff with the option to have a flu vaccination.

It was recommended that the Committee continues to observe the item, and the report for Quarter Two 2018/19 to be brought to this committee.

RESOLVED that the report and subsequent actions, as outlined above, be noted.