HEALTH staff took more sick days in 2024 compared to the year before with anxiety and stress the third most common reason for staff absences.
The issue was highlighted in documents due to be presented to the Health Advisory Board this week which also identified high vacancy rates and staff turnover as ongoing challenges.
It reads: “There is a strong call for a concerted effort to reduce anxiety and stress among staff, as it is a significant concern… This issue is seen as something that can be directly addressed and positively impacted by the board.”
Health staff took an average of 13.6 sick days per employee in 2024, up from 10.9 the previous year. Respiratory illnesses, including colds and flu, were the most common cause of absence (1,650 instances), followed by gastrointestinal problems (953), and anxiety and stress (761).
To better understand the problem, health officials are working on a “heat map” to track patterns of absence, grievances, disciplinary cases and resignations – which is due to be completed within the coming months. This, it is said, will help identify areas where staff are under the most pressure and ensure support is targeted effectively.
The report also suggests that improving mental health support for staff could help tackle rising stress levels. It notes that some employees feel they must be “100% well” to attend work despite evidence that being in a supportive workplace can have a positive impact on mental health.
The report reads: “The goal is not to make everyone happy all the time but to understand and communicate that stress can be beneficial in certain contexts.”
Another concern raised was the low uptake of the government’s Employee Assistance Programme, which offers counselling and other support services to staff. Increasing awareness and use of these services has been identified as a priority for the year ahead.
High levels of stress and anxiety-related absences are not a new issue within Jersey’s health service. In previous years, reports have raised concerns about poor workplace culture, with some staff reluctant to report bullying or harassment for fear of repercussions.
In 2022, a damning report by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor identified serious concerns about governance and workplace culture at the Hospital.
He said at the time: “There is clearly a need to improve the culture of the organisation – that is well known.
“The need to ensure that staff are listened to, that they feel valued and engaged is important because we know – and there is plenty of evidence which suggests this – that poor morale has a negative impact on patient care and it is therefore critical that we improve the culture of our organisation.”
