Swansea Council has reported a significant increase in sickness absence, with stress identified as the leading cause.
- A total of 65,849 working days were lost due to sickness in the last financial year, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.
- The cost of these absences is estimated at £6 million, primarily driven by stress, hospitalisation, and back injuries.
- Unison highlights the impact of budget cuts and workload increases on employee stress levels.
- Efforts by the council to mitigate these absences include stress risk assessments, mandatory wellbeing training, and enhanced HR interventions.
In a notable development, Swansea Council has announced a substantial rise in sickness absence among its staff, with stress cited as the predominant cause. The recent figures reveal that 65,849 working days were lost in the last financial year, representing a 13% increase compared to the previous year.
The financial implications of this spike in absence are significant. Estimated at £6 million, these costs, largely attributed to stress-related absences, highlight a growing concern within the council. Stress accounted for 23% of the sickness reasons, followed by hospitalisation at 9% and back injuries at 7%.
Unison, the public service workers’ union, has brought attention to the heavy workloads and budget cuts faced by council employees, which they argue contribute significantly to rising stress levels. A representative noted that employees face increasing demands with limited resources, further exacerbating stress conditions.
In response, Swansea Council has implemented several measures aimed at reducing sickness absence. These initiatives include conducting stress risk assessment workshops, providing mandatory wellbeing training, and employing a dedicated occupational health adviser. Additionally, the council has revised its absence policy to better support affected employees.
Swansea Council’s spokesperson emphasised the ongoing efforts to reduce sickness absence, noting some successes in recent years. Despite a challenging environment, the council continues to focus on interventions that address the root causes of staff absence.
Swansea Council remains committed to tackling rising sickness absence by addressing stress and other contributing factors within their workforce.
