Welsh colleges urged to address staff absence rates

High levels of absence among further education lecturers in Wales are disrupting students' learning and costing ?9m in year in lost time and replacement staff, a new report has found.

According to research carried out by the Welsh Audit Office, sickness absence rates in FE institutions compare favourably with other areas of the public sector, but remain higher than the private sector.

Jeremy Colman, the auditor general, has called for colleges to work harder to reduce the rate by improving the way they manage sick leave policies.

According to the report, published today, staff members take an average of 8.9 days off sick a year, costing over ?9m a year in time lost and replacement staff. At individual institutions, the rate ranges from 4.8 days to 16 days.

But the effect of sickness absence in further education goes much wider than just cost. Staff shortages can disrupt students' learning, with the report highlighting some cases where such disruption has led to students leaving courses.

The report found weaknesses in the way institutions implement and manage sickness absence policies. Fewer than 80% of sickness absence cases were correctly certified by staff.

The report also highlighted weaknesses in the way colleges analyse the data they collect on sickness absences, often overlooking trends that could help them tackle the issue. For example, many colleges have failed to act on the finding that a third of one-day absences were taken on a Monday.

Phil Markham, the regional support official for Natfhe Wales, the lecturer's union, said: "While these statistics suggest levels of sickness absence in further education colleges in Wales are lower than for most public services, Natfhe would welcome actions which would identify and reduce the causes of sickness absence.

"Many FE lecturers work long hours, much of it unpaid. Lecturers and teachers top the unpaid overtime league, doing an average of 11 hours 36 minutes extra work each week. Financial pressures and contractual uncertainly often add to stress".