I had an interesting conversation with a client of mine - a specialist company who deal with all types of occupational health, fitness for work, ergonomics and absence management. The are contracted to Bradford City Council for specialist work in absence management, seemingly they are contacted only once in a blue moon and BCC are reluctant to spent money on proactive activities which will prevent and halt absence.

Hmmmm, after all that hype on how they are putting actions in place to stop the double digit absence figures. Possibly not putting their money where their mouth is? An under-budgetted HR department is not unusual!

Ok, so to give them some due, the figures are probably generated by one day absences etc. which is actually more of a conduct problem than an occupational health one. Culture has a lot to be blamed for here.