Council sickness policy criticised

Rochdale Borough Council employees have hit out at the council for the advice they are giving employees with swine flu saying effectively that it contradicts with the pressure they are under not to take time off sick.

One employee said: "It's OK Jane Silvester saying that staff with flu like symptoms should stay at home - the council have also said that any absence due to swine flu will be treated like any other absence under the councils absence monitoring system. This could mean being put on a monitoring period, or in some cases lead to dismissal."

Another employee added: "Being off work one more time within the next three months means I will be put on report. Swine flu or not I have no options but to work.

"Please can RMBC create quarantine rooms for the sick, as I’m sure I may not be the only one.

"The sickness policy for RMBC is c***."

Head of People Management, at the Council, Stephen Harper said: "The council's sickness absence policy is designed to ensure that staff who are genuinely ill are supported, while the small handful who might abuse the policy are tackled appropriately.

"Ultimately, the council is here to provide high quality services to local people - and we will do all we can to maintain services during the flu pandemic.

"Staff who have swine flu will be treated in the same way as any other form of sickness absence.

"Advice from the NHS confirms that for the vast majority of people, swine flu is a minor illness which should not involve individual members of staff needing lengthy absences. However each case is always considered on its merits."