| Synopsis: |
This report examines the relative position of absenteeism within Northern Ireland councils and considers absenteeism for the sector as a whole when compared with other employment sectors. Northern Ireland councils employed over 9,500 staff at a cost of GBP 267 million in 2007-08, accounting for 40 per cent of councils' expenditure. When viewed as lost productivity, absenteeism in Northern Ireland councils cost GBP 16.4 million in 2007-08. Councils as a whole had an average absenteeism rate of 13.70 days. Stress, depression, mental health and fatigue remain the largest cause of absenteeism, responsible for almost one quarter of days lost. Lost productivity due to stress related absence cost Northern Ireland councils GBP 3.9m in 2007-08. Variation in absenteeism rates between councils and the proportion of this attributable to stress-related absence, appear to have no discernible pattern. One factor which does vary is the management of absenteeism. The Auditor recommends that councils with high and rising absenteeism rates should review their management practices and benchmark these against those councils with low and falling absenteeism rates. |