Staff at Swansea Council are off sick for three working weeks a year on average - a figure that has been described as "awfully high". The average of just over 15 days per full-time employee factors in those on long-term sickness leave, which skews the number, so many staff will in reality be absent for fewer days during the course of the year.
A report discussed by the council's governance and audit committee said the social services, education and place departments - the latter encompassing waste, cleansing, parks and transport - had the highest staff sickness levels. The average sickness absence in social services was just over 19 days in 2021-22.
The figure across the council for April, May and June this year was just over five days - a big drop - but council officer Adrian Chard said he estimated the average by the end of the financial year would be about the same as in 2021-22, in other words 15 or so. "We are still suffering the effects of Covid," said human resources and organisational development manager Mr Chard. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
