Council sick leave lower than national average

CLARE County Council had the third lowest percentage of working days lost to sickness absence in 2010, according to the latest figures from the Department of the Environment.

The new statistics revealed Clare County Council lost just 3.05% of its working days through certified leave, well below the national average of 4.46%, and 0.4% through uncertified leave under the national average of 0.61%.
Carlow and Cavan County Council were the only two local authorities with a better percentage, finishing above Clare with 4.26% and 4.45% respectively of working days lost to sickness absence through certified leave.
The Department of the Environment published its service indicators in local authorities for 2010, which identifies the percentage of working days lost and absenteeism in all local authorities. 
Clare County Council operates an attendance management policy and procedure, which forms part of the local authority’s strategy to provide a working environment that maximises and motivates employee attendance at work. 
The attendance management procedure aims to provide a consistent approach to managing attendance in the workplace, while at the same time taking individual circumstances into account in order to act reasonably. 
County manager, Tom Coughlan said the council is pleased its percentage for working days lost through sickness is well below the national average.
“All matters in relation to attendance management are handled in a consistent, confidential and sensitive manner by human resources (employee welfare officer), line managers and supervisors. Authorised leave is formally recorded in accordance with agreed local arrangements.
“The attendance management policy and procedure aims to clarify the contractual obligations of the council and the employee in relation to attendance standards at work and to provide clarification on the associated policies and procedures to be adopted by both the council and the employee.
“The council’s attendance management policy and procedure includes the management of sickness absence and specifies how absences should be dealt with,” he said. 
Mr Coughlan noted it covers issues such as notification of absence through illness, certification of illness regarding sick leave, independent medical advice and duration of sick leave benefits.