Wolverhampton City Council has disclosed alarming levels of staff sickness, equating to 120 years of absence in a year, impacting operations.
- Since April 2014, 42 staff members have been dismissed due to excessive sickness absence, according to the Council’s recent admissions.
- The Council reports having 4,576 employees, with each averaging nine sick days annually, amounting to 40,000 lost working days in 2014.
- Concerns arise over underreported sickness levels from past years, prompting potential investigations into non-attendance record-keeping.
- Councilors advocate for procedural reviews to address high sickness absence and minimize reliance on costly agency staff.
In a striking disclosure, Wolverhampton City Council unveiled that its staff cumulatively took the equivalent of 120 years off due to sickness over a 12-month timeframe. This revelation has significant implications for council operations, considering such extensive absenteeism.
The council has acknowledged that 42 employees have been terminated for recurring sickness absences since April 2014, reflecting the gravity of the situation. This measure highlights the council’s commitment to addressing the rampant absenteeism issue.
According to available reports, the Council consists of approximately 4,576 employees, with an average record of nine sick days per employee. Consequently, the Council endured a loss of 40,000 workdays in 2014 alone. Such figures underscore the systemic nature of the problem.
Serious concerns have been raised regarding the potential underreporting of sickness absence in previous years. This suspicion has sparked calls for a comprehensive evaluation into the Council’s current practices in documenting non-attendance, thus ensuring more accurate future records.
Council members, including Councillor Wendy Thompson and Councillor Paul Sweet, have emphasized the critical nature of reducing sickness absence. The imperative to refine current procedures, boost operational efficiency, and alleviate the financial burden due to agency hiring remains essential. Councillor Thompson remarked on the situation, expressing worry over the significant number of lost workdays and the financial strain of employing temporary staff.
Wolverhampton City Council must address systemic issues in sickness absence reporting to ensure operational effectiveness and employee fairness.
