Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Sickness absence managementSickness absenceOccupational HealthWellbeing

Government plans public-sector sickness absence review

by Nic Paton 8 Dec 2015
by Nic Paton 8 Dec 2015 Osborne argues public-sector terms are more generous than in the private sector. PIC: Tolga Akmen/LNP/REX Shutterstock
Osborne argues public-sector terms are more generous than in the private sector. PIC: Tolga Akmen/LNP/REX Shutterstock

The Government is to carry out a review of public-sector sickness absence, Chancellor George Osborne said in his Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spending Review in November, at the same time as he unveiled a series of other workplace health initiatives.

The review was not announced by the Chancellor in his main speech to Parliament, but was revealed in the Treasury’s supporting Blue Book, which was published after the speech.

Sickness absence management resources

Good practice: sickness absence management

Podcast: long-term sickness absence

XpertHR 2015 Survey: managing long-term sickness absence

In it, the Treasury stated that the Government would “review sickness absence in public-sector workforces before consulting on how to reduce its impact on public service delivery, and considering legislation where necessary”.

It argued that public-sector sick pay was estimated to cost around £4.5 billion a year “and terms are more generous than typical private-sector arrangements”.

The book added: “It is right that the Government reviews how the current systems for managing and compensating for sickness are working and looks at what reforms might be needed to move to a more modern and productive state.”

No further detail, or any sense of timing or scope of the review, was articulated at this point, however.

The announcement was one of a number relating to workplace health. The Chancellor, for example, pledged more funding to help people with disabilities and health conditions to get into and remain in work.

This included extra money for the Access to Work scheme and £115 million for the Joint Work and Health Unit, including some £40 million “for a health and work innovation fund, to pilot new ways to join up across the health and employment systems.” An extra £600 million will be invested in mental health services.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health welcomed these changes, with head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones saying: “Better access to timely support, advice and treatments is good for individuals, for employers and for the economy.”

The Chancellor also announced that he would be ending the right to cash compensation for whiplash injuries, with details due to be consulted upon in the new year.

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Personnel Today Awards 2015: video highlights
next post
Maternity leave return: five key actions for employers

You may also like

Expert urges Covid-19 autumn booster expansion amid waning...

11 Aug 2022

Working in a heatwave: what should employers consider?

11 Aug 2022

Zero-hours contract benefits ‘can outweigh negatives for workers’

11 Aug 2022

Hybrid working: do the costs outweigh the wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Personnel Today Awards 2022 shortlist: Health and Wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Long Covid develops in one in eight of...

5 Aug 2022

How can OH start difficult conversations about loneliness?

3 Aug 2022

Top 10 HR questions July 2022: heatwaves and...

1 Aug 2022

CPD: supporting the health needs of university staff

1 Aug 2022

CPD activities: supporting the health needs of university...

1 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today