Council sickness level slightly up

A report by Local Government Auditor, Louise Mason, shows only four of Northern Ireland’s 26 councils recording fewer days lost.

Across the board, councils saw a 15% increase in absenteeism, bucking a five-year downward trend in the local government sector.

The rate increased to an average of 11.77 days per employee, Carrickfergus Borough Council recording the highest rate, of 17.2 days; Cookstown District Council the lowest, 6.64 days.

In her report Mrs Mason refers again to the restructuring of local government and the importance of “rigorously managing absence to ensure staff welfare is protected and that the delivery of frontline services is not adversely affected”.