€500m lost to absenteeism in public sector

UP TO €500 million is being lost a year because of absenteeism in the public sector, as efforts get under way to tackle chronic sick leave across certain departments and state agencies.

The Government said during the budget announcement it intends tackling widespread sick leave in the public sector as well as the private sector next year, including the closure of a loophole which allows workers claim higher pay when sick than at work.

Department of Public Expenditure secretary general Robert Watt yesterday confirmed that absenteeism in the public service was costing the state up to half a billion euro a year.