In a year of pandemic and lockdowns West Lothian Council has seen a drop in the numbers of staff off sick.
The council’s Partnership and Resources PDSP heard that there was an improvement across the council’s seven operational departments in the year to March 31 compared to the year before, 2019-20.
Julie Whitelaw, head of corporate services, told councillors that the Standard Performance Indicator (SPI) for the period from April 1 2020 to March 31 2021 was 4.47 per cent, compared with the SPI figure of 5.68 per cent for the same period in 2019/20. A total of 2921 employees were absent from work for one or more days in the period April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021.
The report added: “The sickness absence SPI has seen a significant reduction in the council-wide absence rate in 2020/21 in comparison to the absence rates for the same time period year.”
In service areas where a high percentage of staff have been predominantly working from home, there have been reductions in overall sickness absence rates of up to 3.05 per cent.
The report also detailed covid-related absence, highlighting that these lost days were not treated as sick leave.
It said: “Since April 2020, the council has submitted a weekly return to COSLA highlighting the number of cases of absence from the workplace which are attributed to Covid-19, including the number of individuals absent because of the requirement to shield.
“In Quarter 4, (January to March) Covid-19 absence rates have increased from 2.75 per cent to 3.20 per cent. This correlates with West Lothian Council remaining in Tier 4 restrictions where employees in the shielding category could elect to have a fit note from Chief Medical Officer or work from home if possible.
“In line with national advice on terms and conditions of employment for all groups of council staff, Covid-19 absences are not classed as sick leave.”
The report concluded: “Stress continues to be the highest contributor to levels of sickness absence across the council and the focus will continue to be on targeting additional support at those service areas that are reporting high levels of stress related absence. Covid-19 has had an impact on the number of staff who have been available for work over the period with the absence rates due to Covid-19 symptoms, shielding or in the high risk category due to underlying health conditions increased during the period.
“In addition, with the increased hygiene, enforced social distancing and a large proportion of the workforce working from home there has been less exposure to the normal community illnesses such as colds, flu, gastrointestinal etc which would contribute to the decline in absence rates.”
Julie Whitelaw said later: “With the increased hygiene, enforced social distancing and a large proportion of the workforce working from home there has been less exposure to the normal community illnesses such as colds.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/
