Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy chief Executive

The reporthighlightsthe councils (excluding Schools) sickness absence performance attheyear-end point,(1 April 2020 to31 March 2021). Given the time of the reporting cycle, the mid-year position of 2021/2022 is also included.

The actionsthat are being undertaken to support colleagues and addresssickness absence are also outlined along with anoverviewoffuture plans.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         note and comment onthe year-end outturn for 2020/21 of 8.14days per FTE which is 14.3% belowthe council target of9.5 days and is the lowest sickness figure reported since 2008.

·         comment ontheactivityrelated to supportingthe effective managementofsickness absence along withsupportingthe Health,Safetyand Wellbeing oftheworkforce asoutlined in sections 6 and 7.

Officer Contacts: Kathryn Rees or Jennie Neill: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk / jennie.neill@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) highlighting the Council’s (excluding Schools) sickness absence performance at the year-end point (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021). Given the time of the reporting cycle, the mid-year position of 2021/2022 was also included.

The actions being taken to support colleagues and address sickness absence were also outlined along with an overview of future plans.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members noted that the short-term absence average days lost had reduced from 5.71 FTE days lost in 2019/20 to 4.03 days in 2020/21 and the long absence figure had increased slightly from 3.88 FTE days lost in 2019/20 to 4.10 days in 2020/21. However, by the mid-point of 2021/22 the long term absence had decreased to 3.64 FTE days. The top reason for sickness absence continued to be mental health reasons (stress, depression, anxiety).

·         A Member enquired whether any patterns had emerged from sickness taken for one or two days by members of staff.

·         The issue was raised with regard to how the recording of absences for a bereavement aligned with formal absences following a bereavement as permitted under the Council’s procedures.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.