The Union / Employee Consultation Committee noted the Sickness Absence report for Quarter 2 (July-September 2024). The Committee also discussed access to training and support for Members. The meeting concluded with a discussion of the Cycle to Work scheme.

Sickness Absence - Quarter 2 (July - September 2024)

The HR Business Partner presented their report on sickness absence to the Committee. The report showed an average of 2.35 days lost per employee for Quarter 2 2024/25, lower than the same period last year, but higher than Quarter 1. It was noted that 6 services experienced no sickness absence at all. The projected outturn for 2024/25 was 9.22 days.

The report identified the key trends in sickness absence. This included the fact that Stress/Depression has remained in the top three reasons for absence since Quarter 2 of 2019/20.

There were 6 cases of absence due to Stress/Depression during Quarter 2 2024/25 (2 were work related, 3 none work related, and 1 a combination of home and work-related issues).

- Printed minutes 11th-Dec-2024 10.00 Union Employee Consultation Committee, p2. ¹

The report also noted that COVID-19 accounted for 15 days lost to sickness, up from 12 in the previous quarter.

The report described the steps that the Council has taken to support employees, which included:

• Mental Health awareness sessions are now available ‘on demand’
• Mental Health awareness initiatives.
• Vivup Rewards & Benefits.
• Free NHS health checks and 'body MOTs'.
• Menopause and Pension Awareness Sessions.
• Lunchtime wellbeing walks.

The Committee discussed whether support could be offered to Members of the Council, particularly in light of the increase in toxicity in politics. In response it was stated that:

some support on offer was also open to Members and could be accessed on Eric (the Council’s internal website) via the “Learning and development” link on the “My Skills” tab. Items listed included Counter Terrorism Training and Mental Health Awareness.

- Printed minutes 11th-Dec-2024 10.00 Union Employee Consultation Committee, p3.

The Committee then discussed whether Members could be better informed about what support is available to them, including through Eric. This included a suggestion that:

The Strategic Director of Services would contact the Communications Team to request an all Member email be sent to inform how to access Eric and the Vivup staff benefit scheme.

- Printed minutes 11th-Dec-2024 10.00 Union Employee Consultation Committee, p3.

The Cycle to Work scheme

A question was asked about the Cycle to Work scheme. In response, the HR Business Partner explained that:

it was a UK National Government scheme to promote greener and healthier transport to work. Up to half the cost of a new bicycle would be covered, and the other paid for by the employee from their wages over time (with no financial interest/penalty). This would then promote healthy physical activity, greener travel, and reduce congestion on roads and parking at offices.

- Printed minutes 11th-Dec-2024 10.00 Union Employee Consultation Committee, p3.

It was noted that air pollution from busy roads might counteract the health benefits.