Dorset Council is experiencing an increase in staff sickness, with employees averaging more than 9.6 days off each year.
This figure is above the council’s target of 8.3 days and is mainly due to a rise in long-term sickness, while short-term absences have remained steady.
The council has not detailed the specific reasons for the absences in its latest report, but previous data has pointed to stress and anxiety for office staff and physical issues for manual workers.
In response, Dorset Council is trialling a more proactive approach to supporting managers with long-term absence cases, aiming for early intervention and support to help staff return to work.
The council is also reducing staff numbers as part of a transformation programme designed to improve efficiency, automate tasks and encourage residents to use smart response systems.
Alongside sickness, the number of serious reportable accidents has also increased, with twelve incidents recorded, more than double the council’s annual target.
Officers believe this rise could be due to a mix of more incidents, better reporting and increased awareness of what should be reported.
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