RTÉ issues €285k tender for service to help manage employees' long-term sick leave

The State broadcaster has tendered for a new contract for the provision of professional advice and medical examinations and assessment for employees at a clinic close to its Dublin headquarters. File picture: Liam McBurney/PA

RTÉ is to spend €285,000 on an occupational health and advisory service to assist in the management of long-term sick leave among its staff.

The State broadcaster has tendered for a new contract for the provision of professional advice and medical examinations and assessment for employees at a clinic close to its Dublin headquarters.

The contract, slated for three years but with the capacity to rise to five, is being offered "in order to assist RTÉ in the management of sick absence", according to the invitation to tender documentation.

The new tender has been offered at the expiration of a previous five-year contract for the service held by occupational healthcare provider Medmark.

The contract deliverables specify that the winning applicant must work with RTÉ's human resources function to achieve "high standards of absenteeism management and the management of return to work in a timely manner for those on long-term sick leave".

It further requires the contractor be able to suggest "innovative and alternative ways of delivering the service which would be cost-efficient and effective".

The maximum number of self-certified sick days which an RTÉ employee can take in any 12-month period is five, with no more than two days to be taken in a row before a doctor's certificate is required.

Regarding long-term illness absences at the organisation, such employees are paid via a salary protection insurance plan, with workers contributing 66% of the cost of that insurance and RTÉ funding the remaining 33%.

It is unclear how many RTÉ employees are currently out on long-term sick leave. A spokesperson described the service as an "important" one for the support of staff.

"Like most companies and organisations, RTÉ relies on external professional occupational healthcare advice and support for a range of health and wellbeing-related matters, from flu vaccines to sick leave," they said.

"This service has been in place for many years, and a provider is appointed every five years following a public tender process."