Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service
RED undertook a comprehensive three year analysis of Sickness Absence rates in the Civil Service for the Cabinet Office.
The project was split into two distinct stages. In stage 1, research was conducted into the methods used to analyse data in organisations outside of the Civil Service.
Although fundamentally a common issue, the methods by which Sickness Absence is measured and analysed vary greatly. For example, several surveys are conducted by Business Organisations, such as the CBI, whereas the Civil Service uses data gathered via payroll and HR systems.
Additionally, those absences that are included in the analysis and how the figures are calculated can be different. The aim of the Phase 1 research was therefore to give the Cabinet Office a better understanding of these issues.
Stage 2 involved the analysis across three years of the Sickness Absence data for the Civil Service.
Each year, data was gathered by RED from over 100 separate organisations staffed by Civil Servants, totally around half a million individuals. RED then analysed the data and reported findings.
Measurements of Sickness Absence tend to focus on the Average Working Days Lost per staff year as the primary metric. This measure allows part-time working, staff turnover and other complicating factors to be accounted for in an easily understood way. It also allows comparisons across organisations and demographic groups to be made, as well as indicating trends across years.
RED performed an in-depth analysis each year, providing many additional statistics that had not previously been given, as well as looking at other metrics such as the Bradford Factor. Some key findings included:
- More than half of staff lost some time to Sickness Absence each year - predominantly short-term;
- A very small proportion of staff were off sick for long periods of time, but these had the biggest impact on Sickness Absence figures;
- Repeat absence rates are higher for those absence that end on a Friday (i.e. return to work is on the Monday).
Copies of RED's reports can be downloaded from the Cabinet Office website here: Sickness Absence Reports.
