The service’s 2018 annual report showed that it had seen an upward trend in sickness absence.
Last year this cost more than £320,000, in 2017 it was lower, at £272,000.
General manager Paul Lickley said the business was now pro-actively
seeking to manage the increase.
About 85% of States Works’ 200 staff are public service employees involved in mainly manually orientated roles.
‘This, in the context of an ageing workforce, with 55% of our staff over 50, is seeing a direct correlation in terms of sickness absence,’ he said.
‘Specifically, we are seeing a number of staff suffering from musculoskeletal and repetitive strain type problems as they get older, some of which are minor but do nevertheless result in sickness.’
Mr Lickley said with retirement ages getting pushed further back, this would require careful management as the business seeks to promote employee health and wellbeing, review existing systems of work and job descriptions, and look to develop opportunities for staff to move into less manual roles as they get older.
The report also revealed that staff turnover as of December 2018 was approximately 18% – below the five-year average.
However Mr Lickley said the devil was in the detail.
‘This figure is inclusive of all leavers, whether due to retirement, the end of a termed contract or merely they have left the business to work in the wider
States of Guernsey,’ he
said.
Mr Lickley said when this was taken into consideration, turnover was closer to 10% which was
considered healthy
and representative of norms.
‘The key is that we have the right people in the right roles,’ he said.
‘Attracting, developing and retaining those staff is important, but equally as a business we also recognise that a healthy level of turnover is a good thing in terms of bringing in fresh ideas and different ways of working.’
He said States Works was investing heavily in the next generation.
As a business it offered a full range of trade apprenticeships including electricians, vehicles, driver/operators, mechanical fitters and gardeners as well as other training and development opportunities.
‘We would encourage people to come and discuss with us if you are starting out on your career or merely looking for a career change,’ said Mr Lickley.
The large number of employees working for the business means that with bad storms, such as last year’s Beast from the East and Storm Eleanor, States Works is in a position to respond to call-outs – something which could increase in the future.
‘We’ve got circa 220 employees and an established call-out system and States teams can flex these
as required.
‘Our resource pool gives us that flexibility to
adapt.’
This included an extensive fleet of vehicles and the right equipment for any needed physical response.
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