There has been a concerning increase in sickness absence rates at Merthyr Tydfil Council, as revealed by new figures. The data, presented in a report to the council’s corporate support and resources committee, showed a rise in the percentage of working days lost to sickness absence from 3.58% in 2022/2023 to 4.37% in 2023/2024. The report highlighted that sickness absence rates had fluctuated over the past five years, with the lowest rate recorded during the Covid-impacted year of 2020/21 at 2.76%, where Covid-related absences were categorised as special leave. In contrast, the highest absence rate was observed in 2023/24 at 4.37% when Covid absences were recorded under sickness absence. This upward trend prompted concerns as the council noted a noticeable increase in absence rates between 2022 and 2024.
The report also compared Merthyr Tydfil Council’s sickness absence rates with nine other local authorities in the region, indicating that Merthyr had the lowest percentage of working days lost in 2023/2024 at 4.37%. It highlighted that departments with higher public interaction, such as social services and education, experienced increased rates of sickness absences due to the heightened risk of contracting illnesses. Moreover, the report cited these sectors as high-stress environments that could contribute to both physical and mental health issues among staff.
To address the rising sickness absence rates, the council stated plans to review the figures regularly with senior teams in monthly meetings alongside HR advisors. This proactive approach aimed to monitor absences effectively and provide adequate well-being support to facilitate staff’s return to work. Common reasons for sickness absences included minor illnesses like colds or flu, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory conditions, and mental health issues such as stress or depression. Notably, while infections and respiratory illnesses decreased in 2020/21 due to pandemic precautions, mental health-related absences saw a significant increase in 2023/24, underscoring the importance of mental health support in the workplace.
Figures for sickness absences over the past five years at Merthyr Tydfil Council reflected the evolving trends. In 2019/2020, 14,063.89 sickness days were lost, equating to 3.25% of total working days. This decreased to 2.76% in 2020/2021 with 11,901.2 sickness days lost but rose to 4.37% in 2023/2024 with 18,756 sickness days lost. The varying statistics indicated the dynamic nature of sickness absences within the council over the years. The report concluded by emphasising the need for ongoing monitoring and support initiatives to tackle sickness absence effectively and promote staff well-being.