About the Civil Service
Statement on Sickness Absence
Almost 50% of civil servants had no recorded absence in 2006/07 and over three quarters of the civil service took less than five working days off sick – an improvement on previous figures which reflects the high priority we give to this issue.
However, as a fair and responsible employer we realise that we can always do more to reduce absence. There are examples of good practice within the Civil Service. For example, responding to the recommendations of a ministerial Task Force on Health Safety and Productivity, HM Prison Service agreed a strategic approach to managing absence, with occupational stress as a priority. Pilot exercises using HSE management standards took place in Kent and the North West and stress related absence fell by 10% as a result, with overall sickness absence falling by 4.7%.
We will be looking for all departments to work with employees to bring sickness absence down further and each department will now monitor their absence figures on a monthly basis and publish annual figures in their departmental reports.