Managing Sickess and Absence

Thursday 2nd December 2010, Grange Holborn Hotel - Central London, 09:00 - 14:00 (half day)

Managing Sickness and Absence in the Workplace: Improving Productivity Through Wellbeing at Work

N.B. Despite the current weather conditions, this event is still scheduled to take place.

Overview

It is estimated that 13.7 million working days lost each year due to work-related mental health conditions including stress, depression and anxiety which are currently estimated to cost UK employers around £28.3 billion per year at current pay levels. On 27 September 2010 the Department for Work and Pensions reported its latest quarterly figures on the level of sickness absence in its workforce to the Cabinet Office. In the 12 month period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, the average level of sickness absence in the Department was 8.5 days per staff year.

One in 10 workers reported suffering from stress and anxiety caused by the recession, according to a survey by the mental health charity Mind, published May 2010. The survey of 2,050 workers found that the pressure of money worries has led to a rise in the number of employers seeking support and medical treatment from their GP. A total of 7 per cent of workers were started on treatment for depression, while 5 per cent said that they had seen a counsellor.

Furthermore, improving the management of sickness absence can yield gains within a relatively short time, according to the CBI Time for Action: Reforming public services and balancing the budget report, published in May 2010. CBI data shows public sector employees typically take around eight days of sickness absence a year, compared with an average of just under six days in the private sector. In 2003, public sector absence levels were 30% higher than the private sector’s, but by 2008 they were 55% higher. If the public sector could reduce its average absence to the same level as the private sector, £5.5bn would be saved by 2015-16.

Dame Carol Black’s review of the health of Britain’s working age population Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, published in 2008, concluded that there is insufficient access to support for people in the early stages of sickness. The health and wellbeing of the working age population has never been as important, especially during this uncertain economic climate. In his speech outlining the future of public health, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, said that “improving the health and well-being of our families and communities by prioritising public health and preventing ill-health more effectively” is a priority.

Agenda

This timely and informative forum will offer delegates the opportunity to examine the main measures to manage and reduce absenteeism, promoting general health and well-being and in turn improve productivity and competitive edge for organizations.

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:40	Chair’s Welcome Address Charlotte Hall, Programme Manager - London Works for Better Health, London Health Commission (CONFIRMED)
09:45	Keynote: Working for A Healthier Tomorrow - Have we Made Progress? The overall costs of sickness absence and health-related worklessness among those of working age is in excess of £100 billion per year Impact of the recession on employers and employees Working for a healthier tomorrow: have we made progress? The future of the Fit Note Prevention of illness and promotion of health and well-being Early intervention for those who develop a health condition An improvement in the health of those out of work – so that everyone with the potential to work has the support they need to do so The role of the workplace in health and well-being The important role of occupational health interventions Next steps in the Government’s health and wellbeing strategy Graeme Henderson, Head of Health and Work, Health Improvement and Protection Directorate, Department of Health (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Effective Management of Mental Distress in the Workplace Early identification, appropriate treatment and effective management support Building the skills of line managers The business case Lessons learnt from the UK pilot of the Australian beyondblue workplace programme Best practice Professor Bob Grove, Chief Executive and Director of the Employment Programme, Centre for Mental Health (CONFIRMED)
10:25	Question and Answer Session
10:45	Coffee and Networking
11:05	Managing Attendance and Tackling Absence Reducing absence levels by paying special attention to: working conditions job design payment systems communications and induction and training welfare employment relations health and safety (including stress) flexible working arrangements Solutions to short-term certificated or uncertificated sickness Effectively dealing with long term sickness by discussing the problem with the employee concerned Managing sickness absence and return to work Working together to prevent sickness absence becoming job loss Guidance for employers Jerry Gibson, Director for London, Eastern and Southern England, ACAS (CONFIRMED)
11:25	Reducing Sickness Rates and Improving the Health and Wellbeing of NHS Staff Placing the health and well-being of NHS staff at the heart of how the health service operates Making the NHS a staff health ambassador How can improving the health and wellbeing of NHS staff improve patient care and save money Taking a lead in improving the health and well-being of NHS staff Incorporating staff health and well-being measures and performance monitoring in the NHS governance frameworks Measures to improve organisational practice and performance Early interventions for staff with musculo-skeletal and mental health conditions, to help minimise the time staff must spend suffering with these problems Taking forward the Boorman Review recommendations Wendy Russell, Deputy Director, NHS Staff Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health (CONFIRMED)
11:45	Reducing Sickness Absence: Improving Productivity, Saving Costs Reducing sickness absence and improving productivity Making efficiency savings by improving workforce management Closing the gap between public and private sector performance Developing a positive workplace culture Good practice in public sector absence management The role of line managers in effectively managing absence Dr. Fiona Robson, Senior Lecturer, Organisation and Human Resource Management, Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University (CONFIRMED)
12:05	Case Study: Improving Productivity, Reducing Absenteeism through Work Wellbeing Health and well being - Not just duty of care and increasing productivity, it is the right thing to do Role of Wellbeing Champions Communications, priorities, information and people involvement Benefits to be realised through improved health awareness and health promotion Living Well, Working Well a long term aim - Being an Employer of Choice Jonathan Russell Deputy Director Employee Policy CoE, DWP (CONFIRMED)
12:25	Question and Answer Session & Chair's Summary
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor:

Vision Express

Audience

Delegates will include heads and directors of health divisions, human resource heads and directors, health and safety teams, absence managers, welfare and well-being teams, risk managers, heads of training, heads of operations, occupational health managers, contact centre managers and be drawn from public central government departments and agencies, local authorities, criminal justice, health and education sectors, insurance companies, legal practices and advocacy organisations, businesses and employers, academia, the third sector and the private sector