Rise in long-term sickness among government staff

A response to a written question said 27 people have taken at least six months off sick so far in 2024

The number of government employees who took at least six months off sick has nearly doubled year-on-year in Jersey, figures have revealed.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf submitted a written question to States Employment Board chair and Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham about long-term sickness.

Mr Renouf's question asked for the number of employees who have either been off for a six to 12-month period or a year or longer in each of the last five years.

In response, Mr Farnham said 27 people have had between six and 12 months off sick up to 30 November this year, compared to 2023 when 12 employees were off between six and 12 months and three who were off for more than a year.

The figures released in the response said in 2022, 13 people were off for up to 12 months and eight had more than a year off.

In 2021, a total of 19 Government employees had up to 12 months off and four had more than 12 months' sick leave.

The response said in 2020, four people were off for between six and 12 months, but it added that due to the Covid pandemic, the government "focused on providing critical services" and sickness levels were underreported.

It said: "Since then, steps have been taken to ensure that line managers are logging sickness absence for their staff and new systems have been introduced that have improved the accuracy of reporting."