Council faces low employee motivation as it proposes sick pay cuts

Date: 26/11/2010

A local council could see employee motivation drop as it proposes cutting sick pay to save money.

Teignbridge District Council has suggested cutting sick pay for the first three days of staff absence, something which it says could save around £130,000 a year.

This is a contrast to news earlier this month which revealed that many councils were using benefits to discourage staff absence.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalists uncovered 25 councils using incentives such as financial incentives, store vouchers and additional days off.

Councillor Alan Connett told Employee Benefits that the cuts were a reaction to government budget changes.

He said that part of the reason for cutting paid absences was to deter people from taking time off when they could work.

And, he added: "It is because in the overall round of the council's budget, I would rather have people in a job, working and receiving a monthly salary, then continue with some benefits, and then have to say to some members of staff 'I am sorry we cannot employ you anymore'."

Other proposed cuts include ending essential car allowances and standardising the mileage rate to 40 pence per mile.

Posted by Jo Morgan

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