Issue - meetings

The HR and Payroll Manager presented the report to the Committee.

The average number of days lost per employee in Quarter 4 2024/25 was 2.8 days, with the outturn for the average number of days lost per employee standing at 9.5 days for 2024/25 (the annual target had been 8.5 days).

It was stated that current NHS waiting times had likely contributed to the higher than target figure.

6 Services had experienced zero sickness in Quarter 4 2024/25 (a further 4 Services had experienced less than 1 day per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee absence).

Stress/Depression had remained in the top three reasons for absence since Quarter 2 2019/20.  There had been 11 cases of absence due to Stress/Depression in Quarter 4 2024/25 (3 work related, 8 none work related).

There remained a direct correlation between employees undertaking physically demanding work and high levels of sickness.  This was reinforced by Muscular/Skeletal absences being in the top three reasons for sickness absence throughout 2024/25.

There had been 0 days of sickness recorded for COVID-19 in Quarter 4 2024/25.

Health and wellbeing initiatives included: Support When You Need It – Vivup’s Confidential Employee Assistance Programme; World Menopause Day 2024 and two sessions of the Menopause Support Group completed; International Men's Day 2024; Fraud Awareness Week; Online Fire Safety Checks; Cervical Cancer Awareness Week; Macmillan Monthly Walking Groups; Race Equality Week; Eating Disorders Awareness Week; Vivup Rewards & Benefits; Your Financial Wellbeing Courses; and Go!Active subsidised membership (for Quarter 4 2024/25, this stood at 64 subscribers).

To a question on the attendance numbers of the Menopause Support Group, the HR and Payroll Manager informed 5 had attended these sessions.  A Member noted even 2-3 attendees would have been reasonable.

The HR and Payroll Manager added that session of the Menopause Support Group would continue and stressed attendance was open to all Council employees – those not going through / would never go through Menopause were welcome to attend to help improve knowledge and awareness.

The Chair asked if the Menopause Support Group was open to Members.  The HR and Payroll Manager confirmed yes and would ask the Employee Engagement Officer to promote these sessions with Members.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Liz Robinson (UNISON)

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Before the meeting ended, a Member noted no disabled parking had been allocated in the Members’ and senior officers’ parking behind The Arc.  The Strategic Director of Services would investigate if provision was possible.