Angus Council staff off for 30 years in one summer

ANGUS COUNCIL staff clocked up the equivalent of more than 30 years’ worth of days off in a three-month 2012 summer of sickness.

New data has revealed that between July 1 and September 30 workers across the 5,400-strong local authority were absent for 11,167.5 days an increase of some 11% on the corresponding period the previous year.

The spell saw rises in both the number of average days lost and the percentage of time lost against available working days.

A taxpayers’ organisation has called for council chiefs to redouble their efforts in tackling absence and to take a tougher line with workers who take time off without good reason.

For more on this story, including reaction to the figures, see Wednesday’s Courier or try our new digital edition.