Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Civil ServiceAbsenceLatest NewsHR practiceSickness absence

Government departments could do more to tackle civil service ‘sickie’ culture

by Mike Berry 18 Feb 2008
by Mike Berry 18 Feb 2008

The Cabinet Office has admitted that government departments “can do more” to reduce staff sickness absence.

Figures showing that the absence rate across the Civil Service in 2006-07 increased slightly on the previous year, with an average of 9.3 days lost per employee, were quietly released earlier this month. This equates to more than 4.1 million working days lost, at a cost to the taxpayer of £393m.

The problem is probably even greater, because no information was available from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The department accounts for about 20% of all staff covered by the analysis.

It employs more younger and female staff – statistically shown to be more likely to take time off than other groups – than the Civil Service as a whole. This would have a “noticeable effect” on the totals, the report said.

HMRC said the introduction of a new HR reporting system in October 2006 meant a complete set of data could not be provided “in the format required”.

The highest absence rate among all departments and government agencies was the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, where 18.7 days were lost per worker. The Department for Transport was the worst-performing and the Cabinet Office the best.

In a statement, the Cabinet Office pointed to figures that showed 44% of civil servants had no recorded absence in 2006-07 and more than three quarters took less than five working days off sick in the year. “However, as a fair and responsible employer, we realise that we can always do more to reduce absence,” it said.

Departments will now monitor sickness rates on a monthly basis, it added.

Working days lost per year
 

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.



































































Department   Average days lost    Total days lost
 Transport  12.4  220,115
 Work and Pensions  11.1  1,361,196
 Home Office  10.5  805,132
 Education and Skills  8.4  28,882
 Environment, Food & Rural Affairs  7.5  92,571
 Ministry of Defence  7.3  504,083
 Constitutional Affairs  7.0  186,001
 Communities and Local Government  6.5  19,878
 Health  6.4  22,692
 Trade and Industry  6.3  39,618
 Treasury  5.3  10,490
 International Development  5.0  9,001
 Culture, Media and Sport  4.8  3,158
 Cabinet Office  3.3  7,151
 Overall – all agencies  9.3  4,117,975

Source: Analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service

Mike Berry

previous post
Barratt Developments group HR director Jayne Mee – a profile
next post
Rise in inflation increases unions demand for higher pay claims

You may also like

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

23 May 2025

Unions ponder strike action after public sector pay...

23 May 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025: Three weeks left to...

23 May 2025

Sighing in frustration at colleague was discriminatory, judge...

23 May 2025

Flexible working for teachers initiative extended

23 May 2025

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today