 Glasgow City Council's Steve Kelly (back, second from left) receives the award Local authority saves £4.5m through 'Maximising Attendance' programme
October 16th 2006 Glasgow City Council saved £4.5m in its first year of using a 'Maximising Attendance' programme, while reducing sickness absence among its social workers. The achievement was recognised with this year's Zurich Municipal Supreme Safety Award.
The scheme brought together health and safety, training and development and personnel teams at the council working alongside its occupational health service provider, BUPA, and its counselling service, Care First.
Among the benefits offered to staff as part of Maximising Attendance were a 24-hour employee counselling service, an occupational health serviice, back initiative, stress awareness training and a lifestyle screening programme which included a free 20 minute health check to highlight health concerns at an early stage to prevent long-term absence later.
Maximising Attendance is now being rolled out across thee whole of the authority, and being considered by other Scottish LAs and the HSE.
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