Low sickness rate for police

LEICESTERSHIRE Police is one of the best performing forces in the country for keeping staff fit and healthy for work, according to iQuanta.

Figures recorded by the force show they only lost 2.9% of all working hours to sickness, an improvement from last year where they lost 3.6%.

It also makes them the second best performing in the country.

For police staff, the statistic rises to 3.5%, which still places them in the top 10 highest performers.

Alison Naylor, Leicestershire Police’s director of human resources, said: “We have been one of the best performing forces in this area for a number of years now and we are relating this success to a change in culture promoting health and wellbeing.

“We manage sickness and support officers and staff by providing appropriate return to work opportunities, encouraging involvement in health, wellbeing and fitness programmes and of course by supporting some very difficult matters in terms of attendance.

“We must remember that during time of reduced funding and organisational change we may expect to see increases in anxiety which could mean extra days lost through sickness.

“These positively low results show me the support services we are offering are working well and we are supporting our workforce even during time of big changes in services.”

To achieve the results the force worked on innovative programmes that catered for staff’s emotional and physical wellbeing.

This includes access to support on mental health, fitness and healthy eating available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They also host a range a physical activities such as a desk to 5k workplace challenge.

Lord Willy Bach, Leicestershire’s police and crime commissioner, said: “Those working for Leicestershire Police are our biggest asset and their health is important to us.”