Women take six more sick days than men in civil service

MONDAY is the most popular no-show day – particularly among clerical officers – in the civil service, where women take on average six more sick days per year than men, according to a new report.

The Sick Leave Absence in the Civil Service report by Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) John Buckley found seven in 10 women availed of sick leave in 2007 compared with five in 10 men.

Female staff accounted for almost 70% of all work absences in the civil service that year and the average number of sick days taken by women was almost 14, compared with an average of just over eight days for each male employee.

In addition, the report published yesterday found:

* and depression ranked number one of the top eight certified reasons for absence.

* Of uncertified sick leave that began on a Monday, over half was in the clerical officer grade, a grade that accounts for 35% of overall civil service staff.

* Staff registered the highest number of uncertified sick days in January in 2007 and half of all uncertified leave was taken between October and February.

* 25 to 34-year-olds had the greatest number of absences, but more working days were lost in the 45-54 age group (this group has the highest representation in the civil service).

* The average number of days lost was highest among those aged 55+ (more than 12).

* Eight in 10 sick days were taken by staff who had completed their probation period.

The report also found that 95% of all instances of sick leave taken in 2007 fell into the short-term absence category (20 days or less).

These absences accounted for just over half of all sick days taken and the average length of each absence was over three days.

Long-term absences accounted for 49% of all sick days taken and the average length was 62 days.

Of the five main reasons for uncertified sick leave in 2007, a stomach complaint was most common, followed by the flu.

More than 345,100 working days were lost through absence due to sick leave in 2007 involving 30,500 whole time equivalent (WTE) employees, with an average of 11.3 days per WTE.

The C&AG report recommends civil service departments determine what a tolerable level of absence is and set targets to reduce absence that exceeds that level.

It also recommends identifying the main cost drivers for sickness absence and reporting the cost in annual reports.

The C&AG also says in terms of long-term absence, timely intervention is key to ensuring employees return to work at the earliest reasonable point.