Stress related absences push Rochdale Council’s sick pay bill close to £3m

Tuesday, 8 July 2025 14:44

By David Murphy

Rochdale Council spent nearly £3 million covering staff sick leave over the last year, with stress and mental health issues topping the list of reasons behind the absences

Fresh figures show that employees took an average of just over 10 sick days each during the 2024/25 financial year, a notable rise from the year before.

In total, the council lost almost 27,000 working days to illness, the majority of which were classed as long-term leave. With each missed day estimated at £110 in lost productivity, the annual cost added up to nearly £3 million.

The data, published in a report for the council’s employment and equalities committee, shows that psychological health problems such as stress and depression remain a major concern. These were the leading causes for long-term absence, followed by recovery from surgery and back or neck pain.

Shorter spells off work were most often linked to minor illnesses, including seasonal viruses, stomach bugs and again, stress-related symptoms.

While the rising sickness rate will raise eyebrows, Rochdale is not an outlier in Greater Manchester. The borough sits somewhere in the middle when compared with neighbouring councils.

The council said that improving employee health remains a key priority under its People Strategy, which promotes preventative action and early support.

To tackle the trend, staff are being encouraged to access wellbeing schemes, including workshops hosted in various locations, and to make use of protected time to take part in health-focused activities during work hours.

The council is also reviewing its internal support systems and monitoring sickness data closely to ensure responses are timely and effective.