Public workers take more sick leave as their lives are put at risk daily

I refer to your report of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, ‘Public sector sick pay cut saves €50m’, about the cost of sick leave in the public service. 

I wish to point out that assaults and injuries at work on front line public servants are also included in these figures. Many nurses, gardaí, paramedics, prison officers and firefighters have had considerable sick leave following assaults and injuries at work.

These included being kicked, punched, stabbed, bitten and contracting contagious diseases through their work such as MRSA, Hepatitis etc. I could also include the verbal and psychological abuse that many endure.

Despite the extra risks and hazards being confronted by these workers, the sick leave entitlement of these workers was halved in 2014. Representation was made to have such groups exempted from the changes to the public service sick leave scheme in 2014.

This was refused by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin and objections were raised to any exemption by the Public Service Committee of ICTU.

Ironically, the judiciary and staff of the Central Bank were exempted and had their enhanced sick leave entitlement maintained. It is now double that of a front line worker.

Due to the loss of sick pay, some frontline workers have had to return to work following injury or assault before full recovery and rehabilitation has taken place.

They have been poorly treated by this Government and Minister Brendan Howlin.

It’s time this situation was rectified and their sick leave entitlement restored to pre 2014 levels.

Cormac Williams

Psychiatric Nurses’ Association

Kerry