NI civil servants averaging 14 sick days a year

The number of days lost to sickness among civil servants in the North is falling, a report claimed today.

However, the British government revealed that on average 14 days are lost to sickness in the civil service across the 11 Stormont departments.

Finance and Personnel Minister Jeff Rooker said: “Departments have made significant efforts and this has resulted in a reduction of the average number of days lost due to sickness absence to 14 days.

“The paybill cost was £25.3m (€37.3m) and while high, this figure is lower than for the previous financial year.

“Early indications suggest the reduction is continuing this year.”

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has set a target for a reduction in the number of days lost to sickness to an average of 9.5 days by 2010.

A strategy has also been drawn up based on prevention, support for those on leave and rehabilitation.

These include:

:: The promotion of health and safety responsibilities both for individuals and managers within each department.

:: The carrying out of a workforce health survey this year whose findings will guide future improvements in employee well-being.

:: The introduction of a range of innovative work/life balance initiatives addressing working patterns and dependant care provisions.

:: The development of a home working policy.

:: The promotion of healthy lifestyle programmes, including the Workplace Health Improvement Programme and the Civil Service Sports Association’s Health Works Programme.

Lord Rooker was confident today the target of reducing the number of days lost to sickness to 9.5 by 2010 was achievable.

The report said during 2004 and 2005, the sickness absence rate per staff year was 14.2 days.

Over 70% of all spells of sickness absence were self-certified.

The remainder were covered by a medical certificate.

Over a third of staff (38.5%) had no recorded sick absence during the year.

The vast majority of working days lost (78.6%) affected a relatively small proportion of staff (13.9%).

The minister said: “The report shows that over three quarters of all working days lost due to sickness absence is attributable to a small number of staff and it is encouraging to note that over 38% of staff had no sick absence at all during 2004/2005.

“As an employer, the Northern Ireland Civil Service continues to address the well-being of its workforce and to manage better the health of employees.

“A Northern Ireland Civil Service Workforce Health Survey was carried out during 2005 and this will provide a baseline from which further improvements in employee well-being across the Northern Ireland departments can be planned and delivered.

“The Workplace Health Improvement Programme and a Health Works Lifestyle strategy are complemented with a strong focus on work-life balance.”