0:00:43 > 0:00:47Almost a million days off work, is enough being done to tackle high
0:00:47 > 0:00:52sickness levels among council staff in the region?
0:00:52 > 0:01:02This factory gets 2 million from the regional growth fund but it is
0:01:02 > 0:01:02
0:01:02 > 0:38:02Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2220 seconds
0:38:02 > 0:38:06enough to combat rising A warm welcome to your local part
0:38:06 > 0:38:11of the programme. Coming up, the high price of sickness amongst
0:38:11 > 0:38:21council staff. Can initiatives like this one in Newcastle get staff
0:38:21 > 0:38:23
0:38:23 > 0:38:28back to work? I am in Cumbria at this factory which received money
0:38:28 > 0:38:31from the regional growth fund. New figures obtained by the BBC
0:38:31 > 0:38:35shows the north as one of the worst part of the country for council
0:38:35 > 0:38:42staff taking sickly. Almost one million days were lost last week
0:38:42 > 0:38:47with its head and Hartlepool have an highest levels. -- Gateshead.
0:38:47 > 0:38:53Critics say illnesses caused by work-related stress arising as
0:38:53 > 0:38:58local authority budgets get smaller. -- they are rising.
0:38:58 > 0:39:04Meet Simon, his job is to make Newcastle council healthier. Some
0:39:04 > 0:39:09of the initiatives we have is a gym membership which is reduced for all
0:39:09 > 0:39:13members of the council, council staff. We do lots of other things,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18we had health assessments for staff, we have seen 500 staff members,
0:39:18 > 0:39:25blood pressure tests. Together those have reduced the sickness
0:39:25 > 0:39:31Neville by a third over seven years saving �7 million. Debbie is a
0:39:31 > 0:39:35customer service worker and was off work with back problems but a free
0:39:35 > 0:39:41council physio sessions have got her back to work. I was bedridden
0:39:41 > 0:39:45for up to four months, not through a serious back injury, back going
0:39:45 > 0:39:50through spasms. You go through occupational health, the NHS said
0:39:51 > 0:39:54as we have on site, they refer you to physiotherapy. The sessions with
0:39:54 > 0:40:02physio worked wonders. There is still a big issue of Council
0:40:02 > 0:40:08sickness levels across array region. Council workers took nearly one
0:40:08 > 0:40:16million days off sick in 2010 until 2011. There are big variations
0:40:16 > 0:40:24across the region. Darlington has the lowest figure. The in Newcastle
0:40:24 > 0:40:32the figure is a 0.5 days. Carlisle, 9.2 days. Where would you find the
0:40:32 > 0:40:36highest number? According to our survey it is Gateshead council,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40where staff members take an average of 10 days' pay year off sick. Why
0:40:41 > 0:40:46is the sickness rate so high you? The council says it has reduced
0:40:46 > 0:40:56sickness rates but faces an ongoing problem, blocked off workers in
0:40:56 > 0:41:01stressful jobs. A number of factors have been shown that there are wide
0:41:01 > 0:41:06variety of roles undertaken by staff members, and also care
0:41:06 > 0:41:12workers, some very street -- physically strenuous work. The rout
0:41:12 > 0:41:16any real examples of employees on long-term sick and who wouldn't
0:41:16 > 0:41:20rather be returned to work. At the Stockton engineering company they
0:41:20 > 0:41:25just take an average of four days a year off sick so could this them
0:41:25 > 0:41:31cope with Council sickness rates? He would be an unsustainable
0:41:31 > 0:41:35position. We would have certainly a distinct impact with regard to our
0:41:35 > 0:41:40service and supply situations by customers. We would certainly have
0:41:40 > 0:41:45an impact directly through to the cost of our business. Not all those
0:41:45 > 0:41:50sick council workers are suffering from cold -- cold and flu. Brian is
0:41:50 > 0:41:53a teacher, spending long periods off work with illness and resigned
0:41:53 > 0:41:58as a deputy head through stress. Now he is back in cash and that
0:41:58 > 0:42:01things are just as bad. Basically I couldn't keep up with the demand of
0:42:01 > 0:42:07the classroom and the management would was making me have sleepless
0:42:07 > 0:42:11nights, panic attacks. There is an increasing number of initiatives,
0:42:11 > 0:42:15and increasing amount of paperwork, expectations with regards what the
0:42:15 > 0:42:20teacher should do. Teachers are working so hard and so long to try
0:42:20 > 0:42:25and maintain the standards they are actually having the emotional
0:42:25 > 0:42:29breakdowns. We know our councils of going through a punishing regime of
0:42:29 > 0:42:39squeezed budgets and service cuts. It is exhausting and it seems some
0:42:39 > 0:42:49of those staff have hit the wall. Are growing stress levels making
0:42:49 > 0:42:51
0:42:51 > 0:42:55people ill or not? Is the fact the sickness rates are
0:42:55 > 0:42:59higher than the private sector problem or not? It is undoubtedly a
0:42:59 > 0:43:03problem. It means more people are getting sick, been ill, and also
0:43:03 > 0:43:06because of the impact on services in the region. It is definitely a
0:43:06 > 0:43:10problem but we need to be careful when we try to understand the
0:43:11 > 0:43:16reasons for it. All the research I have seen such as sickness levels
0:43:16 > 0:43:19are related to stress and distress that is part of the job, part of
0:43:19 > 0:43:23the environmental stress. But also part of the management, the quality
0:43:23 > 0:43:27of the management and that organisations. I was glad to see
0:43:27 > 0:43:31what was happening in Newcastle in terms of getting to the gym, etc.
0:43:31 > 0:43:36But we need to be looking at how people employed are having to react
0:43:36 > 0:43:38to the stressful situations, piggish a management is better.
0:43:38 > 0:43:44would it be more stressful to work in the public sector rather than
0:43:44 > 0:43:49the private sector? In the public sector often
0:43:49 > 0:43:55unfortunately you may have much less control over your job and much
0:43:55 > 0:43:58less control over the targets, etc, which are imposed from above. Also
0:43:58 > 0:44:05much less control over what you're going to lose your job in an
0:44:05 > 0:44:09environment like urine now. Do you have any much more control? Were
0:44:09 > 0:44:15new here 25% of all public sector is being cut you feel you have got
0:44:15 > 0:44:18a lot let -- less control. You have been trying to get some of this
0:44:18 > 0:44:22information through parliamentary questions, would you make of the
0:44:22 > 0:44:26figures? He interesting to see what it is -- it is like a local
0:44:26 > 0:44:28government level, the national one seemed to be lower so I am
0:44:28 > 0:44:33wondering if there was an issue with a good government and how it
0:44:33 > 0:44:37deals with the problems. It is a lot to do with leadership and
0:44:37 > 0:44:42banishment within councils. You see that in the private sector,
0:44:42 > 0:44:47interesting deceit your figures are substantially lower, and that is
0:44:47 > 0:44:54down to good management and leadership. Hard Gates had right?
0:44:54 > 0:44:59They are physically demanding and emotionally stressful so you would
0:44:59 > 0:45:04expect a high sickness levels. row stressful jobs in the private
0:45:04 > 0:45:07sector as well. I go back to my point it is down to management and
0:45:07 > 0:45:17leadership to stop you see that in the private sector, they take
0:45:17 > 0:45:21
0:45:21 > 0:45:26sickness seriously. You need to see Some people say they might feel
0:45:26 > 0:45:30cosier in the public sector, less likely to be shown the door?
0:45:30 > 0:45:34The fact that terms and conditions often in a public sector are better
0:45:34 > 0:45:39than the private sector, maybe a small factor, but all the research
0:45:40 > 0:45:43shows sickness levels of related to stress and they are related to the
0:45:43 > 0:45:47quality of management. Even if you feel you can take a day off without
0:45:47 > 0:45:52losing your job, if you are inspired by your boss, no you are
0:45:52 > 0:45:56making a good contribution to your city or country, you get up and you
0:45:56 > 0:46:00will go to work. Is that a lot more difficult for local authority
0:46:00 > 0:46:03employees at a time when the budgets are going down and they are
0:46:03 > 0:46:10saying they can't achieve what they want? That is absolutely true. That
0:46:10 > 0:46:14is a big factor. It is about management and leadership. And we
0:46:14 > 0:46:18have seen higher salaries in local government management over the last
0:46:18 > 0:46:23few years and we need to see more leadership as well.
0:46:23 > 0:46:28Would you accept the cuts are likely to make people more ill?
0:46:28 > 0:46:32It is an interesting point you are saying there is cuts and they are
0:46:32 > 0:46:35affecting the stress levels. There was a recession in the private
0:46:35 > 0:46:39sector and they had to deal with that and you didn't seek an
0:46:39 > 0:46:45increase in sickness. He would be an incentive for people to work
0:46:45 > 0:46:51harder and make sure they are doing their best. Our local authority is
0:46:51 > 0:46:57likely to feel less valued by Eric Pickles talking about them doing
0:46:57 > 0:47:00none jobs? We have to make sure they do them
0:47:00 > 0:47:04as efficiently as possible and maximise their efforts are we get
0:47:04 > 0:47:08front line services preserve. One million days loft is a heck of a
0:47:08 > 0:47:12lot. We need to make sure we've reduced that so we Secure front
0:47:12 > 0:47:19line services. When I talk about management and
0:47:19 > 0:47:23leadership I am talking about local government but also our government.
0:47:23 > 0:47:27Pickles constant criticism of the public sector doesn't help. But
0:47:27 > 0:47:32neither does it help when the Prime Minister and other top ministers
0:47:32 > 0:47:37say if you're in the backroom for example of the police force you
0:47:37 > 0:47:43should be losing your job or if you're in the back office of the
0:47:43 > 0:47:46hospital service you are not as valued.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50In the private sector they are always striving to get productivity
0:47:50 > 0:47:57gains, make sure they perform as best as they can. We need to do
0:47:57 > 0:48:00exactly the same in the public sector. That is where good
0:48:00 > 0:48:04management, leadership, motivates the staff. We need to see that the
0:48:04 > 0:48:07public sector as well as the private sector are.
0:48:07 > 0:48:17You can buy that the sickness rate for your individual local council
0:48:17 > 0:48:22
0:48:22 > 0:48:27on my block. -- blog. Cumbrian firms got some cash from the
0:48:27 > 0:48:31regional development funds with three companies due to receive �10
0:48:31 > 0:48:41million. With 1,500 public-sector jobs a month is appearing in the
0:48:41 > 0:48:46
0:48:46 > 0:48:50region is the fund any more than a Pumping life back into the economy,
0:48:50 > 0:48:53this factory in Carlisle has been given �2 million from the
0:48:53 > 0:48:56Government's regional growth fund. It is welcome investment for a key
0:48:56 > 0:49:02local employer. We are absolutely delighted to have
0:49:02 > 0:49:07been granted this funding. Certainly there will be a positive
0:49:07 > 0:49:12impact on jobs. We don't know at this point to what level it will be.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14Certainly there will be more activity in the research and
0:49:14 > 0:49:20development area. Hopefully that will have a ripple effect through
0:49:20 > 0:49:24the business as new products are developed. The old regional
0:49:24 > 0:49:29development agency invested nearly �100 million in Cumbria alone
0:49:29 > 0:49:34between 2008 and this year. Since the regional development agencies
0:49:34 > 0:49:39were abolished companies have battled for a share of the regional
0:49:39 > 0:49:44growth fund. Companies in Cumbria won �10 million between them. With
0:49:44 > 0:49:48so little money available many bids failed. Among them an attempt to
0:49:48 > 0:49:53push Carlisle's Roman heritage and Hadrian Wall as a major tourist
0:49:53 > 0:49:57attraction. -- Hadrian's Wall. are bitterly disappointed. Over two
0:49:57 > 0:50:02years we would have provided 290 jobs and a further 300 indirect
0:50:02 > 0:50:07jobs. We must invest in this industry. He doesn't need a huge
0:50:07 > 0:50:13amount of investment. But the rewards of asked. The need for
0:50:13 > 0:50:18private sector Dubs has never been greater and here's why. 150 posts
0:50:18 > 0:50:22are being lost here and that is a fraction of the jobs going across
0:50:22 > 0:50:27the public sector. Welcome as the Investment his critics believe the
0:50:27 > 0:50:31regional growth fund isn't big enough to plug the gap. You can't
0:50:31 > 0:50:35possibly make it effective. It is a drop in the ocean of what we need.
0:50:35 > 0:50:39The government needs to rethink its strategy. Not that I suspect it
0:50:39 > 0:50:44will, but I would like to rethink his strategy and listen to the
0:50:44 > 0:50:49advice that if it isn't working, have a Plan B. Lots of pain but no
0:50:49 > 0:50:54again. Some companies will -- were not
0:50:54 > 0:50:58even able to apply. This factory employs 80 people. Business is
0:50:58 > 0:51:04brisk but there is frustration at the lack of government help build
0:51:04 > 0:51:08up it doesn't feel good. It seems always go to big companies. There
0:51:08 > 0:51:11are a lot of Labour were involved and the big companies have got a
0:51:11 > 0:51:15team to put it together and able to apply for the funding and it tends
0:51:15 > 0:51:19to go that way. There will be no more chances to
0:51:19 > 0:51:24apply for the fund. It has all the handed out. Growing businesses like
0:51:24 > 0:51:34this one will be watching keenly to see how this companies lucky enough
0:51:34 > 0:51:35
0:51:35 > 0:51:39to win grants will spend up stop If you compare it to the money
0:51:39 > 0:51:44spent by the Regional Development Agency in Cumbria it is peanuts.
0:51:45 > 0:51:50You have got to remember the backdrop we have. The debt we have.
0:51:50 > 0:51:57There is not the money there once was. A 10th as much money going in.
0:51:57 > 0:52:02Surely you have made 90% cuts? were borrowing 150 billion a year,
0:52:02 > 0:52:11which was unsustainable, could go on. I welcome the contribution that
0:52:11 > 0:52:14is being made to the local economy. A delighted that is happening.
0:52:14 > 0:52:18Across the North West 200 bridges 7 million, it will Secure 8,000 full-
0:52:18 > 0:52:23time jobs and probably another 40,000 indirect jobs. There is
0:52:23 > 0:52:26growth going into the economy. I do accept it is not as good as we
0:52:26 > 0:52:32would like. You are seeing other private sector jobs being created
0:52:32 > 0:52:36for example in Carlisle Debenhams is introducing new jobs, so private
0:52:36 > 0:52:41sector jobs are being created out with any government support. What
0:52:41 > 0:52:45is missing his we saw that project that could have created hundreds of
0:52:45 > 0:52:50millions of jobs, cut spending, yet the money isn't there fallen to do
0:52:50 > 0:52:54it. It's no because under the last government they spend far too much.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58We had at school. �150 billion per year, we couldn't afford to keep
0:52:58 > 0:53:01going as we were all we would end up like Greece, that is the problem.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05This government is having to try and read by the problems are for
0:53:06 > 0:53:11the last government stock if you look at the North East, even with
0:53:11 > 0:53:21limited resources. 40% grants went to the North East. Does the
0:53:21 > 0:53:22
0:53:22 > 0:53:26government put his money where its mouth is? It is fantastic, it is
0:53:26 > 0:53:30great some companies have got the promise of some money, but let's
0:53:30 > 0:53:38remember only two of the first drag or regional growth funds got any
0:53:38 > 0:53:42money. There are many more uses than winners. It is still only one
0:53:43 > 0:53:47third of what was available through the Regional Development Agency.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50This government has cut manufacturing capital allowances
0:53:50 > 0:53:56which are key to manufacturing which is where you want to see
0:53:56 > 0:53:59growth in the economy. Some would say that is the legacy of your
0:53:59 > 0:54:03government spending too much. method of mum was spending as much
0:54:03 > 0:54:08or in the same area as Greece is something that the Conservatives
0:54:08 > 0:54:13are always trying to run with and has finally been put to bed by
0:54:13 > 0:54:20looking at the fact we had one of the lowest levels of before we went
0:54:20 > 0:54:26into the financial crisis. What is important here is to remember
0:54:26 > 0:54:36before we hit the financial crisis we have one of the lowest levels of
0:54:36 > 0:54:36
0:54:36 > 0:54:43deficit. What is the alternative? What we need to do is grow. If you
0:54:44 > 0:54:47could grow you will have more... How do you do that? Cut VAT to 5%
0:54:47 > 0:54:50for construction. And a construction markets across the
0:54:50 > 0:54:56region who would love that because that would mean he would have the
0:54:56 > 0:54:59jobs they are not getting now. And for example you increase the tax,
0:54:59 > 0:55:06the bank is bonus which could create 100,000 jobs for young
0:55:06 > 0:55:11people. Hour and a brim of a young people is really going on. -- hour
0:55:11 > 0:55:14unemployment. We are losing jobs so fast that is welcome as these are
0:55:14 > 0:55:17they are not enough to turn the tide? You have got to get the
0:55:17 > 0:55:24private sector going. I disagree with usenet jobs are going and they
0:55:24 > 0:55:28are not being replaced. The Carlisle economy is doing really
0:55:28 > 0:55:31well. Unemployment is rising. have to make sure the private
0:55:31 > 0:55:35sector succeeds. One of the things the government has managed to
0:55:35 > 0:55:43achieve by keeping the deficit down and getting up a production is to
0:55:43 > 0:55:47keep interest rates low. There was no sign that is working.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50economy grew by 0.5% of stock that demonstrates there is growth. The
0:55:50 > 0:55:54his difficulties in the euro-zone. Difficulties in America. That makes
0:55:54 > 0:55:58it more difficult. You can't get away from the fact she cannot
0:55:58 > 0:56:02borrow your way out of a problem. As the government miscalculated?
0:56:02 > 0:56:05They decided this was it in terms of regional growth and there will
0:56:05 > 0:56:09not be any more money. They made that decision before the eurozone
0:56:09 > 0:56:13crisis stop they assumed we would be growing much faster than we are
0:56:13 > 0:56:16now. Had they not been the crisis, had America resolved his problems,
0:56:16 > 0:56:19conditions would have been far better. You have to wait and see
0:56:19 > 0:56:22what the Chancellor does in the Autumn Statement. He may do
0:56:22 > 0:56:26something for the regional growth fund. Should they be a third round?
0:56:26 > 0:56:29I would like to see it. It has been targeted at the rise of the
0:56:30 > 0:56:33companies, manufacturing, engineering, that is where we have
0:56:33 > 0:56:36got to have growth, rebalance the economy. One of the problems under
0:56:36 > 0:56:40the last government was they neglected manufacturing. This
0:56:40 > 0:56:48government is not doing that. We want to see manufacturing growth as
0:56:48 > 0:56:51the Briton make things again. are suffering now. The last
0:56:51 > 0:56:54government put money into infrastructure and for a simple
0:56:54 > 0:56:57manufacturing capital allowances. PowerGen can say this government is
0:56:57 > 0:57:01supporting manufacturing when it has cut manufacturing capital
0:57:01 > 0:57:06allowances which other thing which enables even more so than interest
0:57:06 > 0:57:09rates, which enables many factors to invest in the new plant and
0:57:09 > 0:57:13equipment and start growing the companies which is what we need.
0:57:13 > 0:57:17They have cut that and they have also... They are addressing skills
0:57:17 > 0:57:21agenda which you neglected. Creating new jobs for technicians
0:57:21 > 0:57:26and things like that with apprenticeships. They were saved
0:57:26 > 0:57:31under Labour. They were going down continuously. We started them going
0:57:31 > 0:57:34up. We increased them hugely. will have to leave it there, thank
0:57:34 > 0:57:38you very much. That is about it. We are back next