A PILOT scheme aimed at slashing cost of sick leave at City of York Council began today.
The project - the first in the country - aims to cut sickness absence in the authority's 1,000-strong adult services department - which loses 28 days per full-time staff member each year at a cost of £2.3 million.
This is more than twice the Guildhall average of 12.2 days.
Under the three-month trial, adult services employees - home and residential carers and social workers - no longer contact their line manager when sick, but private healthcare organisation ActiveHealth.
They then speak to a qualified occupational health nurse, who will give advice on how best to treat symptoms.
But union bosses have criticised the move and said the project failed to address the causes of sick leave, like heavy workload and stress.
Updated: 10:04 Monday, September 13, 2004
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