THE number of days lost due to employee sickness at Craven District Council increased last year by 9.5 per cent.

In the year ending March 31, the number of days lost per full time equivalent worker was 9.1 days - 1.1 day or 13. 8 per cent above the council’s target of eight days, and five days more than the national average of 4.1 days.

In a report to the council’s Select Committee, the council’s human resources manager said that total levels of absence had increased every year since March, 2016.

Short term absence has fallen each year from 4.3 days in March, 2016, to 3.8 days in March, 2017, and 3.75 days in March this year.

But, long term absence - of more than four weeks - has increased every year from 3.6 days to March, 2016; 4.5 days to March, 2017, and up to 5.3 days at the end of March, last year.

19 members of staff had long periods of absence during the year and 53 per cent was due to stress, depression or anxiety.

Paul Shevlin, chief executive of Craven District Council, said: “The number of days lost due to sickness has increased in 2017-2018, which is disappointing. However as we have a relatively small workforce, these figures can be skewed by just one or two staff members with long-term sickness. In this case, a quarter of long-term absence was accounted for by one member of staff being absent for a full year.

“We are pleased that the level of short-term absence has actually decreased, from 4.3 days per full-time staff member in 2016, down to 3.75 days in March 2018.

“It is also pleasing to note that in 2017- 2018 half of all our staff took absolutely no sickness absence whatsoever. We do have a robust absence management policy and procedure and are keen to ensure that sickness absence levels are managed effectively and kept to a minimum. We are committed to promote good work attendance levels and reduce absence due to sickness, through positive and supportive management.”