William Eichler 25 April 2024

10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave

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.

#employment #HR

Analysis

Digital Transformation, AI and Local Government: The Case for Workforce Upskilling

The new LocalGov and Multiverse report explores how workforce upskilling is driving smarter, more efficient, and inclusive local government transformation.

Opinion

Why Reform UK is misguided, mistaken and just plain wrong on pensions

Reform UK’s plan to close the LGPS to new entrants would deepen recruitment crises and push low-paid workers towards poverty, argues UNISON’s Glyn Jenkins.

Most Popular News

EXCLUSIVE: Two unions reject pay offer

Reform defends £700m council savings claim

Record number of council staff earning over £100k

Lancashire CC apologises for role in failings before Southport attack

Council threatens legal action over £20m roads funding row

New Products

Safeguarding Children - the AAT Way

MSL enhances hygiene auditing with air quality testing for Awaab’s Law compliance

Cadcorp launches Mapestry

Bolton Council Upgrades 120+ School Crossings with Smart CMS Control by Lucy Zodion

NEC CONTRACTS HAS GONE DIGITAL: PAPERLESS, TO GIVE YOU MORE

Vent-Axia Delivers Social Housing a Smart Ventilation Solution Ahead of Awaab’s Law

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

Case Studies

Acrospire Delivers Seamless Heritage Lighting Upgrade on Bath’s North Parade Bridge

Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge

Acrospire Delivers PIR-Controlled Lighting at Ruislip Lido Car Park

Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street revitalised using Thorn Lighting’s Thor Lanterns and Customisable Gobo Projectors

Acrospire Partners with Bath & North East Somerset Council to Illuminate Historic Film Location with LED Upgrade

Believ to install 22 charge points across Redcar and Cleveland

Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting

Company Anouncements

Vent-Axia Welcomes the Future Homes Standard as Competency Takes Centre Stage

Apricorn Becomes First and Only Hardware-Encrypted USB Storage Device Manufacturer to Achieve AS9100 Certification

AAT helps Councils step up to address children’s social care

CU Phosco Approved as a Crown Commercial Service Supplier

Acrospire triumphs at the 2025 HEA Awards with Sustainable Project of the Year

TRT Lighting retrofit helps Lincolnshire County Council cut street lighting energy use by over 65%

Vent-Axia Welcomes Healthy Homes Standard

Programme Manager - Castle Point Borough Council

Up to £550.0000 per day

Programme Manager - Castle Point Borough Council Castle Point, Essex Full-Time, Temporary 2 month contract £550 per day Umbrella, Outside IR35 Project England, Essex, Thundersley

Recuriter: Essex County Council