There has been a “noticeable increase” in the sickness absence rate at Merthyr Tydfil Council since 2022, new figures show. The data comes from a report to the council’s corporate support and resources committee for Tuesday, October 15, and shows the percentage of working days lost to sickness absence increased from 3.58% in 2022/2023 to 4.37% in 2023/2024.
The report said the sickness absence rate had shown fluctuations over the years, with the lowest absence rate in the last five years seen in 2020/21 at 2.76%, the year when Covid-related sickness or isolation cases were recorded as special leave. The highest absence rate was recorded in 2023/24 at 4.37%, where Covid absences were classified as sickness absence, indicating a noticeable increase from 2022-2024.
Unpublished data from nine other local authorities in the area showed that Merthyr ranked lowest in terms of the percentage of working days lost for the period 2023/2024, at 4.37%. The report highlighted that departments like social services and education, which are front-facing, experienced higher sickness absence rates due to increased chances of contracting illnesses from more interactions.
The report emphasized that these departments were high-stress environments, contributing to mental and physical health problems. Regular reviews with senior teams, monthly meetings with HR Advisors, and the provision of well-being support were recommended to better monitor sickness absences and aid staff in their return to work.
The most common reasons for sickness absence identified were minor illnesses like cold or flu, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory conditions, and mental health issues such as stress or depression. Trends in sickness absences show fluctuations over the years, suggesting a need for ongoing health and wellness programmes to address persistent concerns.
Musculoskeletal issues had decreased over the years, possibly due to better practices or work conditions. Conversely, non-work-related stress and anxiety increased, particularly in 2023/24, underscoring the importance of mental health support in the workplace amidst the pandemic and cost-of-living challenges.
The figures for the numbers of days lost to sickness absence over the last five years at the council were detailed in the report:
– 2019/2020: 14,063.89 sickness days lost (3.25% of total working days)
– 2020/2021: 11,901.2 sickness days lost (2.76% of total working days)
– 2021/2022: 16,809.86 sickness days lost (3.9% of total working days)
– 2022/2023: 15,414 sickness days lost (3.58% of total working days)
– 2023/2024: 18,756 sickness days lost (4.37% of total working days)
These figures illustrate the evolution of sickness absence rates at Merthyr Tydfil Council over the specified period, reflecting the impact of various factors on staff well-being and workplace dynamics.