Patterns of absence

Absence statistics can be used by employers and the government to drive changes in policy and absence management practice. They can also be used to understand sickness absence and its causes. Where absence statistics and data are generated internally, from the employer’s own workforce, there are issues of equality and data protection to think about (see Chapter 3). For these reasons, patterns of absence are something that union reps need to be aware of.

The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) drew attention to potential problems in this area, following publication of statistics for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) in September 2018. General secretary Alison Millar said: “Each year the NI Statistics Agency is allowed to issue a report that is based on data only and not informed by the true reasons that lie behind the data. NICS management do not comment on the report, as they know only too well that they carry responsibility for a workplace that fails to properly assess the problems and fails to protect staff from the harm caused by applying continuous additional pressure on staff with less resources”.