SICKNESS rates in the civil service are at their highest level for almost a decade, with workers missing an average of one day in 20.
The latest figures show that so-called 'sickness absence' across a dozen government departments averaged 11.7 working days last year, an increase of almost one full day on the 2014 average.
It is the third year in a row the rate has risen, with the Ulster Unionists blaming the "chaotic roll-out of the voluntary exit scheme".
According to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra), which compiles the figures, the level of overall civil service sickness is equal to £32.7m in lost productivity.
Sick leave levels across various departments differs significantly. Workers in the Department of Justice missed the highest number of days and were absent on an average of 15.9 days due to illness.
Their counterparts in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister took sick leave on 7.3 days, making it the only department last year to meet its target for reducing absenteeism.
The Department for Social Development (DSD), which following Stormont's organisational shake-up in May no longer exists, saw average sickness levels rise by almost two full working days to 13.1.
Notably, DSD is one of only two Stormont departments that has met its sickness absence reduction target in the past three years.
But despite the rising sickness absence rate, which is now at its highest level since 2007, more than half of all civil servants had no absence whatsoever.
However, more than one in ten staff had at least one long-term absence spell lasting an average of nearly three months, the highest incidence of long-term absence for five years and accounting for nearly three quarters of all working days lost.
The main reason for absence was stress and other psychiatric conditions. Female workers missed an average of three-and-a-half days more than their male colleagues, with average sickness absence of 13.5 and 10 days respectively.
Notably, staff who had been in post for less than two years, around two-fifths of who were working under probationary terms and conditions, had a much lower level of sickness absence – 4.3 days – than staff who had been employed for two years or more – 11.8 days.
Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said: "The increase in the level of sickness absence across the service is disappointing – particularly as there had been a downward trend for a number of years.
"While it is encouraging to note that half of our staff had no recorded periods of sickness absence during 2015/16, reducing sick absence must remain a priority for departments and it is vital that work on this area continues and, where necessary, intensifies."
Ulster Unionist finance spokesman Philip Smith said the level was "considerably higher" than the UK civil service rate of 8.8 missed days.
"It now appears a real possibility that the chaotic roll-out of the voluntary exit scheme, in which thousands of staff left the Northern Ireland Civil Service in a totally uncoordinated manner, may have destabilised the ability of those left behind to continue the same functions as effectively," he said.
