Public and Commercial Services Union

Public sector workers have been easy targets for press and politicians who accuse us of enjoying an easier working life than our private sector counterparts.

Dispelling the myths

PCS is keen to dispel the myths and improve your workplace well-being – through developing positive policies on personnel issues.

Under the well-being at work banner, we will aim to get better policies on learning, skills and development, health and attendance, work-life balance and performance appraisal.

Initially we are planning to campaign on improving health and attendance practices.

One frequent accusation made by the press and politicians is that a “sicknote culture” exists in the public sector.

Targets puts staff under pressure

Despite evidence to the contrary, current employer policies are resulting in punitive targets to reduce sickness absence and workers are coming under increasing pressure to return to work even though they are unwell.

Sickness absence is actually falling in the civil service – four out of ten staff take no time off at all each year and nearly nine in ten absences are for less than five days – so why all the angst?

From the government’s point of view, workplace health and sickness is about ‘productivity’ and ‘economic competitiveness’, with the clear implication that you are only as important as your contribution to the economy - or what you save it.

This drive for productivity, set against a back drop of job cuts, relocation and privatisation, has led to the current culture of ‘triggers’ and ‘targets.’

This can cause unnecessary anxiety to the many PCS members who take very little sick leave and increasing the pressure on people who are genuinely ill (and on their families and colleagues).

This punitive approach also does little to tackle the reasons why some people are so demotivated that they don't show up for work even though they are well enough to do so.

Healthy workplaces are more productive

PCS believes that creating healthy workplaces and ensuring the health of workers is a fundamental prerequisite for a happy and productive workforce.

Being away from work for long periods not only reduces your social contacts and your confidence but your income and career prospects.

The government, however, is still reluctant to acknowledge that specific causes need specific cures, and that these may not result in quick improvements.

Sickness is often stress-related

In areas where sickness absence is particularly high it is often linked to a stressful working environment. PCS believes employers need to take more responsibility for tackling issues like workplace stress and job insecurity which contribute to ill-health and prevent people returning to work even though they are physically ready.

Good practice that can be used in your workplace does already exist and PCS is commited to convincing employers that well-being at work demands investment in good working practices, support for people who are ill, bullied or pressured and rehabilitative measures that address individual needs.

This is not going to be easy in the current climate but with an average of 36% of our waking hours spent at work, we need to take action to make sure that it’s not work that is making us ill!

What we want managers to do

Healthier workplaces – what we want managers to do:

• Work with trade unions and workers to create a positive agenda for health
• Value the workforce
• Make people want to come to work
• Practice consistent good management
• Train and support managers to deal with this difficult issue
• Apply basic good practice
• Prevent problems occurring
• Tackle the real, specific causes of ill-health and absence
• Involve and support individuals
• Give workers the best chance to get back to work

The facts

In 2003 and 2004

• 40% of staff took no sick leave at all
• 60% of staff took at least one spell of absence, but 86% of these absences were 5 days or less
• The average number of working days lost per staff year was 9.1 – down from 10 in 2003 and 9.8 in 2002
• The total number of working days lost represents 4% of total working days
• The two main causes of absences over 9 days were neoplasm (cancers) and mental disorders (including stress)

Departmental figures showed wide differences in levels – the lowest being the Cabinet Office at 3.6 working days lost per staff year, the highest being the Inland Revenue with 12.

Source: Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service, 2004 (Red Scientific)