Tayside Police cracking down on civilian sick days
Tayside Police are to get tougher with civilian staff who take "odd days" off sick.
- By Bruce Robbins
- Published in the Courier : 28.09.10
- Published online : 28.09.10 @ 02.33pm
Although the number of working days lost by police officers fell by 55 over the last quarter in comparison with 2009, civilian staff took 133 more days off over the same period.
A report before the police board's personnel sub-committee on Monday revealed that short-term absences accounted for almost 80% of days lost through sickness. The board was told that a new attendance management policy was being introduced to focus on what was described as "sporadic, short-term, minor illnesses."
The policy was described as a "slightly more rigid approach" than the force has previously used but, with financial and staffing problems set to increase as a result of budgetary pressures, it was the right time to adopt the new policy.
Staff who have three periods of absence will now be interviewed and steps taken to support them back to full health. However, they will be told that they could jeopardise their employment if their pattern of absence continues.
Chairman Ian Mackintosh said it was important to recognise that 75% of staff achieved 100% attendance.
Board member Councillor Peter Mulheron said that absences such as digestive problems, headaches and psychological issues could be signs of stress.
- The force has work to do on the way officers record minor assaults.
A report to Monday's meeting of the corporate governance sub-committee found that government inspectors were happy with three of the four categories they examined. They gave a good rating for the accuracy of Tayside's internal crime audit and how it recorded domestic abuse and vandalism.
However, they said there were incidents where it was apparent from an initial call from the public that a crime was taking place but which officers failed to record as such or make clear on record why the circumstances did not constitute a crime.
The force has drawn up an action plan to improve reporting of minor assaults.
Photo used under a Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user RLHyde.
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