Council Employees had over 20,000 days sickness absence in 2022

Staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had 20357 days sickness absence in 2022. To 31 March 2022 it's estimated that the Council employed 930 people. If that figure remained through 2022 that would mean an incredible average of 22 days sickness absence per person.

The figures supplied by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council via an FOI request show Neighbourhood Services as the department with the largest absence, a total of 9718.5 day of sickness leave. Neighbourhood Services deal with bins, recycling, grounds maintenance, facilities management, fleet management etc.

Next highest was Active and Healthy Communities with 5454.5. AHC is responsible for leisure and sports programmes and facilities, parks and playing fields and playgrounds. Then Chief Executive and Corporate Services with 2744 followed by Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism at 2440.

In 2021 the staff sickness absence figure was 17,778.5 while in 2020 when much working from home was done due to Covid-19 it was 12107.5.