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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Civil service sickness 'too high' | Civil service sickness 'too high' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| There is an unacceptable level of absence through sickness in NI's civil service, Finance Minister Peter Robinson has told assembly members. | |
| In their last meeting before the break, MLAs will also considered whether to relocate some public sector jobs. | |
| But public service union Nipsa insisted that comparisons with sick leave rates in the private sector were misleading. | But public service union Nipsa insisted that comparisons with sick leave rates in the private sector were misleading. |
| They said civil service figures also include long-term illnesses, but sick leave levels were otherwise similar. | They said civil service figures also include long-term illnesses, but sick leave levels were otherwise similar. |
| Union spokesman John Corey said the "big stick approach to addressing sick leave... just demoralises staff". | Union spokesman John Corey said the "big stick approach to addressing sick leave... just demoralises staff". |
| "Unfair treatment over pay, threats to their jobs from privatisation and expenditure cuts all contribute to stress and sick leave levels - these matters need to be addressed," he said. | "Unfair treatment over pay, threats to their jobs from privatisation and expenditure cuts all contribute to stress and sick leave levels - these matters need to be addressed," he said. |
| Last month Mr Robinson claimed urgent action was needed to tackle the problem of absenteeism in the civil service. | Last month Mr Robinson claimed urgent action was needed to tackle the problem of absenteeism in the civil service. |
| He said the problem cost the tax payer more than £24m last year - a figure that's expected to rise. | He said the problem cost the tax payer more than £24m last year - a figure that's expected to rise. |
| The Executive will also hold an initial discussion on the Workplace 2010 initiative, a five-year programme to modernise and rationalise civil service accommodation. | The Executive will also hold an initial discussion on the Workplace 2010 initiative, a five-year programme to modernise and rationalise civil service accommodation. |
| Ministers will also consider a paper on the location of public sector jobs. | Ministers will also consider a paper on the location of public sector jobs. |
| This week's meetings of the British Irish Council at Stormont and the North South Ministerial Council at Armagh will also be reviewed with reports by the first and deputy first ministers. | This week's meetings of the British Irish Council at Stormont and the North South Ministerial Council at Armagh will also be reviewed with reports by the first and deputy first ministers. |