RADICAL steps are in the pipeline to cut the crippling sick list at City of York Council.

Hard hitting measures could include medical screening for staff and extending a controversial pilot scheme across the authority's 7,500 workers.

The no nonsense stance is being considered to tackle a growing problem of sickness at the council where, on average, workers are absent for as many as 13 days a year.

Council leader Steve Galloway branded the sickness levels, which cost council tax payers more than £10 million a year, as "unacceptable".

He said the council is now considering a series of get-tough measures to tackle the issue including:

consulting with city lab firm Yorktest and the University of York to consider bringing in screening for staff, before and during employment, on ailments such as food intolerances

extending the unpopular pilot scheme in adult services, which forced staff to contact health nurses, but has slashed absenteeism in the department by more than 21 per cent

Union leaders today expressed their concern that the measures would not get to the "root cause" of why workers were calling in sick.

But Coun Galloway is determined to improve the council's record, which is one of the worst among unitary authorities, and has told councillors and top officers that a "more robust approach" may be required.

The council as a whole lost an average 13.5 days per full-time equivalent through sickness absence last year, with indications that this could increase to 15.5 days - or three working weeks - by the end of this year.

A council report recently revealed the amount of time lost to sickness absence equated to more than £7.5 million in 2004/05 in staff wages and could be costing the authority as much as £3 million to cover the absences. Last year, the working time lost was equivalent to more than 300 additional employees.

"It is a matter of concern that we don't perform as well as at other authorities.

"This is now getting to be an area where all the management team are going to have to focus. There is no logical reason why York should be inferior compared to elsewhere.

"We have had some success with certain trials undertaken in the past few months and this issue may require a more robust approach.

"People who are off sick for anything other than a very good reason are putting greater pressure on colleagues and the council budget."

After the meeting, he told the Evening Press: "There are sophisticated medical systems available allowing people to be screened for all sorts of ailments.

"We will look at every possible opportunity and there are a number of techniques available.

"My view is that the level of sickness in the council is at an unacceptable level in some departments.

"We have to try all means to reduce this and, yes, that could mean medical screenings and extending the adult services trial."

Yorktest chief executive John Graham told the Evening Press that discussions were still at a very early stage with the council.

"The council has been very proactive in trying to help people who have illness problems.

"This looks likely to be a very positive way of offering health benefits to council employees," he said.

"We have a meeting planned in mid November and the scheme, if brought in, would be entirely voluntary.

"It could help people understand, in a more definite and logical way (why they are ill)."

Scheme cut absenteeism

THE GROUND-BREAKING pilot scheme in adult services has helped cut absenteeism in thecouncil department by more than 21 per cent.

The project, launched in September 2004, after the department lost 28 days per full-time worker each year, forced staff to contact occupational health nurses rather than their managers.

The nurses would then offer treatment advice and conducted follow-up checks when required. The council was then told if the employee would be off work and when they were likely to return. Councillors could put more money into continuing the scheme when the pilot project is set to finish on December 31.

Union chiefs at Unison said the scheme was causing huge controversy in the department, claiming it put sick employees under pressure to return to work.

Authority urged to look at causes

TRADE Union bosses today accused the council of not looking at the root causes of sickness and said they needed to be tackled before the problem was eased.

Unison chiefs also said they were yet to be consulted on the initial proposals to introduce medical screening to the council.

Dave Bonner, the union's deputy general convenor, said: "When people are generally sick you do not want them to come back before they are ready.

"A lot of sickness absence is caused by over work.

"Some people have work loads they can't cope with.

"We need to look at what the root causes are if this is to be tackled - and look at why people are off sick.

"We have seen the results of this trial in adult services but we have had numerous complaints about this, and not just from members - some managers are not happy with it as well."

Illness a big issue for employers

BUS company First, which employs 300 drivers in York, says its sickness policy includes medicals and return to work interviews.

"Sickness absence is an important issue for us," said commercial director Peter Edwards.

"If a driver isn't able to work, the bus might not run."

Mr Edwards said staff had to pass a pre-employment medical to ensure they met rigorous industry standards and stressed the importance of an industry where workers were depended on. Those suffering from long-term sickness problems undergo a new medical, through an arrangement with BUPA, when they return to work and go through an interview with line managers.

"We have a 15 per cent provision of cover for holidays and sickness.

We regularly review our policies and take action when appropriate."

Initial absences were reported to line managers, Mr Edwards said.

Line managers at Norwich Union, which has more than 3,000 York employees, are the first port of call for workers who call in sick.

Occupational health workers help compile reports for those who may have more serious complaints but, for less severe ailments, staff must only hand in sickness certificates after seven days off work.

Return to work interviews are not required.

We asked people in York what they thought of the council's sickness levels and the measures brought in to remedy it

Clare Elliott, 19, from York: "It sounds like a lot. I don't take any sick leave, but I'm not in a full-time job. I don't really get poorly. I've had about two days in three years. I think three weeks is a bit ridiculous."

James Cooper, 73, from Tadcaster, said: "I agree (to the measures) and they are entitled to do it, it used to happen years ago. If it helps people from taking time off they should do it."

Mike Griffin, 19, a photo processor from the Heslington Road area: "I don't think that (amount of days off) would be standard in other industries."

Paul Cook, 45, a barber from Max Headroom in York city centre: "I think it's wrong that they're allowed to do that. It's a waste of public money, and you wonder why your rates go up."

Updated: 08:27 Saturday, October 29, 2005