NSW: Government workers face tougher sick day scrutiny

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2007
NSW: Government workers face tougher sick day scrutiny

SYDNEY, Aug 19 AAP - NSW public servants will have to phone a private nurse when they
call in sick under a plan to slash the high amount of sick leave taken by state government
workers.

The nurses will give confidential health advice and keep a register of regular callers,
which they will report to managers, News Ltd newspapers reported today.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show public-sector employees take more sickies
than their privately employed counterparts.

A NSW Treasury audit found reducing the sick leave of each public servant by one day
each year would save taxpayers $45 million.

"What we find is that a small proportion of people take the most time off," Direct
Health Solutions boss Paul Dundon, who confirmed he had been in discussions with the government,
told News Ltd.

"Under this system, they will start hitting alerts and the nurse will drill down to
try and find out what the underlying causes are."

Bus drivers will be the first workers to encounter the new system.

AAP ad/jl/

KEYWORD: SICKIE

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.