Request ID: FOI-1297-2223 Date published: 22 September 2022
You asked
I wish to make a request for the following information under the freedom of information act:
1. How many people, who have been employed for 2 years or more, as of the date of receipt of this request, are off work on long-term sickness absence.
Of those in 1 above, how many absences have exceeded
:8 months
:12 months
2: Of the total above what number are off on account of mental incapacity
3. How many people who have been employed by TfL for longer than 2 years have been dismissed on grounds of Ill health in the last 3 years.
4. With regard to 3 above, how many were dismissed before completing
: 6 months sickness absence
: between 6 and 9 months sickness absence
: reached 12 months sickness absence before being dismissed
5. Please break down those listed in 4 above who have been dismissed according to physical /mental incapacity and by over/under 50 years old and by male/female.
6. How many disabled staff, who have been employed for 2 years or longer, has TfL dismissed on grounds of long term ill health in the last 3 years. Please provide this information by age and sex and how many of these staff were long term sick for less than 12 months before being dismissed.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1297-2223
Thank you for your request received on 25 August 2022 asking for information about staff absence.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
Our in-house Occupational Health team provides a wide range of health services for the circa 26,000 frontline, operational and non-operational staff who work across the London Underground, Surface, Rail and Corporate directorates. Information, advice and a number of initiatives are in place to help our staff look after their health and wellbeing and support them at work wherever possible, including:
Physiotherapy and low back pain clinics
Advice to help staff prevent medical conditions associated with shift work
Counselling and trauma services
Female and male specific health management
Cancer awareness
Stop smoking support
Extensive advice and guidance via our staff intranet pages aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle, including monitoring and managing chronic conditions
To help reduce the level of staff absenteeism, our senior management works closely with Human Resources and Occupational Health to support colleagues and manage absence levels. For example, we have an extensive development programme for managers at all levels on managing sickness absence.
We take the mental health of our staff very seriously and are continuously working hard to create a culture that reduces the stigma around mental health. As well as adopting a preventative approach, we want to make sure any staff member facing mental health issues gets the support they need, which can sometimes mean they take sick leave.
We are continuing to look at how we measure and manage the effect of change on health and wellbeing as TfL strives to be become more efficient. This is why as well as supporting campaigns like Time to Change, we have a range of support in place, including a dedicated mental health team, a confidential 24/7 telephone helpline and mental health first aider training.
You asked:
How many people, who have been employed for 2 years or more, as of the date of receipt of this request, are off work on long-term sickness absence.
There are a total of 797 people who are off work on long-term sickness. The definition of long-term sickness is 28 continuous days or more off on sick leave.
Of those in 1 above, how many absences have exceeded
8 months = 42
12 months = 7
Of the total above what number are off on account of mental incapacity
There are 246 (31%) people who are recorded as being off on account of a mental health related illnesses. This will have been confirmed in a sick note provided by the staff member’s GP.
How many people who have been employed by TfL for longer than 2 years have been dismissed on grounds of Ill health in the last 3 years.
With regard to 3 above, how many were dismissed before completing
6 months sickness absence
between 6 and 9 months sickness absence
reached 12 months sickness absence before being dismissed
Please break down those listed in 4 above who have been dismissed according to physical /mental incapacity and by over/under 50 years old and by male/female
Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation, information that relates to five or fewer people has been withheld as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act as personal data of these persons could be identified. Disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the DPA, specifically the first principle of principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
How many disabled staff, who have been employed for 2 years or longer, has TfL dismissed on grounds of long term ill health in the last 3 years. Please provide this information by age and sex and how many of these staff were long term sick for less than 12 months before being dismissed.
None.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
