15 November 2005 - DWP absence figures fall - but no room for complacency, says Lord Hunt
Lord Hunt today praised the fall in sickness absence rates in the Department for Work and Pensions, but warned management not to become complacent.
There was a reduction in sickness absence in 2004 across the whole of the Department, which is the largest in government, with Jobcentre Plus seeing a fall of 12 to 9.8 days, the CSA 13.8 to 11.6 days and the Department’s overall rate dropping from 11.6 to 9.6.
Civil Service sickness absence as a whole fell by around one day per person in the past year, and more than 40 per cent of public sector staff took no sickness absence at all.
Lord Hunt, Minister for Health and Safety, said:
“I am very encouraged by the progress the DWP has made in the past year. It is welcome news and highlights the success of the work of the Ministerial Task Force on Health, Safety and Productivity. But, as the Minister who leads the Task Force, I want to make it absolutely clear that there is no room for complacency and there is still more work to be done right across the public sector.”
Lord Hunt today chaired a Ministerial Task Force Stakeholder Summit reporting on progress since it published its report Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector in November 2004. The summit provided an opportunity to share best practice and examine case studies from both the public and private sectors.
He welcomed the publication of the One Year On report published by HSE and detailing the work of the Task Force, and the launch of the Civil Service Sickness Absence Report issued by the Cabinet Office.
Lord Hunt added:
“Across the public sector, we have started to show that action to prevent sickness absence and get people back to work sooner is having an impact. Our One Year On Report shows what can be done with high-level commitment and management action, on the use of trigger points and return to work interviews.
“The Health, Work and Wellbeing Strategy, which was successfully launched last month, will help us build on this success not just in our department, or even across government, but across the country as a whole. It will not just help reduce sickness absence but will tackle far wider issues and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of all working age people.”
The Ministerial Task Force includes membership from HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, Department of Health, Home Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Notes to editors
- A full copy of the report Ministerial Task Force on Health, Safety and Productivity – One Year On Report and the joint Task Force/Cabinet Office report Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector can be downloaded from the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/gse/live.htm
- A full copy of the Civil Service Sickness Absence Report can be downloaded from the Cabinet Office website at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp
For further information on DWP figures:
DWP press office: Sam Harris: 020 7238 0645
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Textphone: 020 7238 0788
For further information about civil service sickness absence: Cabinet Office press office Abigail Brown 020 7276 0261