City of York Council is continuing its drive to reduce sickness absence across the authority.

Members of the council's Executive will receive an update on how the authority's sickness absence rates are decreasing, as well as what the council is doing to ensure that the reduction continues at a meeting next month (7 October).

There have been significant improvements in sickness absence across the council with an overall reduction from 12.9 days per full time equivalent (FTE) in 2006/07 to 9.54 days per FTE in 2007/08.  This reduction is equivalent to a saving of over £1million for the council on last year's sickness absence costs, not taking into account savings in overtime and temporary staff to cover for absent employees.

The council is now taking a co-ordinated approach to managing attendance, continuing the momentum around sickness absence reductions and taking a holistic approach to attendance, by helping employees manage their work-life balance, making it easier for staff to attend work.

The attendance programme includes:
- Management training
- Health and well-being promotional activities
- A new occupational health service contract
- Rehabilitation programmes to help those who are on long term sick return to work
- Worklife balance schemes