THE number of days lost to sickness across the Dorset Councils partnership is improving.
Latest figures, for the first quarter of the financial year, show a total loss of 847 days – compared to 963 for the same period last year.
The partnership is made up of Weymouth and Portland borough council, West Dorset district and North Dorset district.
Averaged out, per employee, the figure is 1.55 days, over the three months, compared to 1.8 last year.
Long term absences account for 57 per cent of the figures – compared to 49 per cent last year, with 16 staff members on long-term absence during the quarter although by the end of it 8 had fully returned to work, two were on phased returns and six were still off work.
The quarter is traditionally the lowest for sickness rates. Council statistics show that figures for the second quarter averaged 3.7 days last year per employee; the third quarter 5.17 days and the fourth (winter) quarter 7.25 days.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here