Sickness needs to be treated, not disciplined - 8 December 2004

The FDA - the union for senior public sector managers and professionals - has today given a broad welcome to the Ministerial Taskforce for Health, Safety and Productivity's report on managing sickness absence in the public sector.

The proposals would encourage greater contact between departments and those on long term sick leave, seeking to reduce feelings of being cut off from work which add to an individual's problems.

Dave Penman, FDA head of operations, said: "We welcome the recognition that more investment is required in the skills of senior managers to deal with sickness absence. However, the increased emphasis on using discipline to combat sickness absence is a blunt instrument. Sickness needs to be treated, not disciplined.

"The FDA also welcomes the report's recommendations on more flexible working arrangements, including short-term flexi-days and special leave, which complement the union's wider agenda on work-life balance. However, any attempt to reduce sick leave pay would be firmly resisted.

"While we support moves to reduce 'malingering' in the civil service, this should not be at the expense of the genuinely ill."

Notes for Editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 12,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.
2. For further information contact: