William Eichler 25 April 2024

10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave

10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave  image
Image: Instantvise / Shutterstock.com.

Nearly 10,000 staff members working in councils across England are currently on long-term sick leave, freedom of information requests have revealed.

Sent by the Liberal Democrats to all English councils, the FOI requests showed there were 9,979 council staff on long-term sick leave, up 18% from 8,441 in 2019.

The FOI requests, which received 185 responses, also found 58% of local authorities had seen a rise in staff being off on long-term sickness compared to 2019.

Birmingham City Council has the highest number of staff members on sick leave (561, up from 390 in 2019). Leeds City Council is close behind with 425 currently off (up from 254 in 2019).

Only four councils had no staff on long-term sick leave: West Oxfordshire District Council, Staffordshire, Rushmoor and Copeland.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
up to £165,000
Ebbsfleet is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, a 21st-century Garden City Ebbsfleet, Kent
Recuriter: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Investment Marketing and Web Officer CDC

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 8, £33,708 - £37,399
The postholder should be experienced in planning social media activity, refreshing web content and analysing their impact. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Passenger Assistant (Escort) x 4 posts (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 3 - dependant on hours
The City of Doncaster Council is a confident, ambitious organisation Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Traffic Engineering Senior Technician (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 7, £28,132 - £30,914
You will play a key role in the planning, implementation and operation of traffic signal infrastructure across the city. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Modern Slavery and Violence Prevention Programme Manager

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band H, SCP38 - 43 (£49,282 - £54,495) per annum
Sandwell Council is seeking an experienced and visionary Modern Slavery and Violence Prevention Programme Manager Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner