Council plan overview report on corporate health

Absence has increased sharply since quarter 2 with the number of days lost going up by 31%. This is particularly due to rises in the days lost due to stress, anxiety and depression and colds, coughs and flu.  

The days lost due to stress, anxiety and depression has risen by 42%, but the number of instances has remained steady. For colds, coughs and flu absences, the number of days lost has increased by approximately three quarters (75%) since quarter 2. An increase in this kind of sickness is expected in the winter months.

The number of staff in the directorate recording sickness absence has also increased, 36% had sickness absence in quarter 3, compared to 28% last quarter.  However, this is in line with the same time last year when the result was 37%.

Long-term sickness equates to over half (55%) of the total absence this quarter which is very similar to last quarter.  There were 29 members of staff off long-term during the quarter, 12 of whom have now returned to work.

There has been a decrease in the number of days lost in quarter 3, compared to last quarter. The number of days lost has decreased by approximately 19%.

The number of staff in the directorate recording sickness absence has remained consistent. Just over a third (34%) had sickness absence in quarter 3 compared to 31% last quarter and 34% at the same time last year.

The instances of colds, coughs and flu this quarter compared to last quarter went up by over 150%, a rise which is expected during the winter months. However, the number of days lost and instances are very similar to this time last year.

Just over a third of the sickness (36%) taken this quarter related to long-term sickness, but this is lower than quarter 2. There were less than 5 members of staff off long-term during the quarter, 2 of these have now returned to work.

Absence has more than doubled since quarter 2 in Place, Planning and Regeneration. There have been significant rises particularly in Building Control and Land Charges and Parks and Countryside.

Within Building Control and Land Charges this is mainly due to less than 5 members of staff on long-term sickness within the quarter.

Parks and Countryside have also had a significant increase in the number of instances of sickness in quarter 3. However over two thirds (68%) of these were just one day or less. Just under half (43%) of the absences in Parks and  Countryside were due to colds, coughs and flu compared to 18% last quarter, which is to be expected during the winter months.

Overall, the number of staff in the directorate who recorded sickness absence has also increased - 28% of staff in quarter 3, compared to 21% last quarter.

Just over half of all sickness (53%) recorded relates to long term sickness this quarter, which is higher than last quarter. Seven members of staff were off long-term in quarter 3. Three of these had returned by the end of the period.

Absence has increased slightly since quarter 2. The number of days lost to sickness has increased by approximately 15%.

The number of staff in the directorate recording sickness absence has also increased. 30% had sickness absence in quarter 3 compared to 19% last quarter.  However, this is in line with absence recorded the same time last year - 32% of staff had an absence within quarter 3 2022 to 2023.

Of all sickness absences this quarter, 4 in 10 were for one day or less. As expected at this time of year, there has been an increase in the number of staff absence due to illnesses such as colds, coughs and flu. There has also been a rise in the number of days lost to COVID-19 recorded this quarter.

Long-term sickness equates to approximately 38% of the absence this quarter. This is significantly lower than last quarter, showing that the increase is in short term absences. There were less than 5 members of staff on long-term sickness, one of whom has returned to work.

Absence has increased since quarter 2. The number of days lost to sickness has increased by approximately 27%.

The number of staff in the directorate recording sickness absence has also increased. 40% had sickness absence in quarter 3 compared to just 13% last quarter and 21% at the same time last year.

Of all sickness absences this quarter, half were for one day or less. Just under half of the absences were for illnesses such as colds, coughs and flu, which is to be expected during the winter months. There has also been a rise in the number of days lost to COVID-19 recorded this quarter.

Around half of the sickness (48%) taken this quarter related to long-term sickness. There were less than 5 members of staff off long-term during the quarter, who have now returned to work.