FOI request detail

Mental health of staff

Request ID: FOI-1490-1920
Date published: 12 September 2019

You asked

Please answer Q1-10 in financial years Please can you tell me: 1. How many station and operational staff members for TfL have taken time off work for mental health reasons: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 2. How many TfL train and tube drivers have taken time off work for mental health reasons: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 3. How many station and operational staff members for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q1a-d, attribute the cause to a fatality on the tracks: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 4. How many train and tube drivers for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q2a-d, attribute the cause to a fatality on the tracks: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 5. How many station and operational staff members for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q1a-d, attribute the cause to a shock/trauma incident on the tracks: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 6. How many train and tube drivers for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q2a-d, attribute the cause to a shock/trauma incident on the tracks: a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 7. What is the total number of sickness days taken by the station and operational staff, who you identified in Q1a-d as having time off for mental health a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 8. What is the total number of sickness days taken by the drivers you identified in Q2a-d as having time off for mental health a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 9. What is the total number of working days carried out by the station and operational staff, who you identified in Q1a-d as having time off for mental health a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19 10. What is the total number of working days carried out by the drivers who you identified in Q2a-d as having time off for mental health a) in 2015/16 b) in 2016/17 c) in 2017/18 d) in 2018/19

We answered

Our ref: FOI-1490-1920/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15 August 2019 asking for information about the mental health of staff.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.

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.

1. How many station and operational staff members for TfL have taken time off work for mental health reasons:

a) in 2015/16 - 1106

b) in 2016/17 - 1227

c) in 2017/18 - 1346

d) in 2018/19 - 1557

Please note that station staff are considered operational staff.

2. How many TfL train and tube drivers have taken time off work for mental health reasons:

a) in 2015/16 - 460

b) in 2016/17 - 552

c) in 2017/18 - 549

d) in 2018/19 - 609

3. How many station and operational staff members for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q1a-d, attribute the cause to a fatality on the tracks:

4. How many train and tube drivers for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q2a-d, attribute the cause to a fatality on the tracks:

5. How many station and operational staff members for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q1a-d, attribute the cause to a shock/trauma incident on the tracks:

6. How many train and tube drivers for TfL, who have taken time off for mental health reasons in Q2a-d, attribute the cause to a shock/trauma incident on the tracks:

For questions 3 – 6 above, we do not record this information. We record a sickness absence incident as an individual absence type. Therefore, if someone is absent for mental health reasons we do not record the underlying reason for this. This means it is not possible for us report on whether absences for mental health issues are linked in any way to the incidents you refer to.

7. What is the total number of sickness days taken by the station and operational staff, who you identified in Q1a-d as having time off for mental health

a) in 2015/16 – 167,688

b) in 2016/17 – 170,807

c) in 2017/18 – 178,281

d) in 2018/19 – 203,020

8. What is the total number of sickness days taken by the drivers you identified in Q2a-d as having time off for mental health

a) in 2015/16 – 57,917

b) in 2016/17 – 65,124

c) in 2017/18 – 66,380

d) in 2018/19 - 67,416

9. What is the total number of working days carried out by the station and operational staff, who you identified in Q1a-d as having time off for mental health

a) in 2015/16 - 3,296,721

b) in 2016/17 - 2,912,662

c) in 2017/18 – 2,945,632

d) in 2018/19 – 3,218,314

10. What is the total number of working days carried out by the drivers who you identified in Q2a-d as having time off for mental health

a) in 2015/16 – 1,038,873

b) in 2016/17 – 1,037,168

c) in 2017/18 – 1,019,337

d) in 2018/19 - 1,005,096

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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