Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report on sickness absence within the Authority. The report had been requested previously by the Board in the light of declining performance in relation to sickness absence over a number of months.

The report contained details of current sickness levels and the actions which had been taken to address these including the use of a revised sickness absence policy and the holding of two performance clinics looking specifically at long term sickness and at policy issues. There was detailed discussion and Members raised a number of questions to which the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development responded.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that a further performance clinic be arranged to look again at the application of the Council’s sickness absence policy by Heads of Service including progression to the informal stage of the policy;

(b)       that the policy itself be reconsidered including the various “trigger points” set out within the policy;

(c)        that consideration be given to introducing spot checks in relation to the carrying out of return to work interviews in order to promote a consistency of approach;

(d)       that officers produce a breakdown of periods of short term sickness to identify any particular patterns

(e)       that a further report be considered at the February Board Meeting.