£100k saved by reducing sickness absence

North Norfolk District Council saved nearly £100,000 last year by again reducing the average number of days’ sick leave suffered by staff.

In 2009/10, staff took on average two and a half days less off work because of illness than in the previous year – down from 10.81 days per full-time equivalent, to 8.42 days. The figure in 2007/08 was even higher, at 11.63 days.

The 22 per cent improvement over 2008/09 comes after NNDC introduced a policy of holding return-to-work interviews after every period of absence, at which managers can ensure sickness absence procedures (like certification and record-keeping) have been properly followed, can talk to their staff about whether any medical or occupational support might be needed, and can establish whether any there are any underlying work-related causes for the absence.

Managers are also now expected to maintain contact with absent members of staff (in a sensitive way), to ensure service delivery and the employee’s sickness absence and return-to-work are effectively managed.

The reduction in sickness absence between 2008/09 and 2009/10 equates to 724 days’ less sickness across NNDC, or effectively having 2.78 extra people working for the Council full-time. Based on average salary, this translates as a saving of £93,563.

Councillor Graham Jones, Cabinet Member for Organisational Development, said: “It is pleasing that the policy has produced such excellent results and to see the trend continuing downwards. It is the equivalent of almost £100,000 a year in increased efficiency. This is very significant at a time when essential local government services are under threat from government cutbacks. It also reflects well on the staff overall that they have responded to the challenge."

ENDS