Audit report praises Assembly’s “notable achievement” in reducing staff sickness absence

Levels of sickness absence in the National Assembly for Wales have fallen thanks to clear leadership and improved management processes, according to a new Audit report. The Assembly’s Audit Committee today (Wednesday January 17) publishes a report on the management of sickness absence in the National Assembly. The report praises the steps taken to reduce sickness absence but says that further improvements are still possible. Between 2004 and 2005, sickness absence rates amongst the Assembly’s 6,500 staff fell from an average of 10 days per member of staff to an average of eight days, with a particular reduction in the level of long term absence.  Further reductions were delivered in the first half of 2006.  The report says this is “a notable achievement”. Key factors in this success have been a clear commitment by senior management, supported by updated policies and procedures such as return to work interviews, and an increased expenditure on health and safety and occupational health and staff counselling. However, the report makes a number of recommendations for further improvements, including more accurate recording of absence and better analysis of sickness absence.  The report also recommends that more needs to be done to tackle the issue of a long hours culture –two in five staff across the Assembly say they cannot get their work done within their contracted hours. Janet Davies AM, Chair of Audit Committee, said: “The Assembly has taken significant and praiseworthy steps in the management of sickness absence, but the Committee believes that there are still measures to be taken which would lead to further improvement. The Assembly’s staff represent its biggest asset and the health, well being and attendance of these staff is crucial to the delivery of wider business objectives.”