Sickness rise at Cambridgeshire job loss council

Sickness levels at a Cambridgeshire council have risen "significantly" after redundancies were announced, a report has revealed.

South Cambridgeshire District Council told employees last year there would be "major changes" including possible restructuring and job losses.

The council human resources department report said sickness figures have "increased significantly" since then.

It will be discussed by the finance and staffing portfolio team later.

Stress, depression and mental health issues made up 38.6% of absences in the affordable home division, and 58.3% in customer and community services.

The report said: "The sickness figures over the third and fourth quarters have increased significantly.

"The percentage of illness relating to stress, depression and mental health issues continues to be of major concern and appears to be increasing.

"The level of viral illness is also of concern as stress can lead to a reduction in the level of immunity to such illnesses.

"Workplace change can have an impact on employees, particularly if there are already personal stress factors and the combination can lead to people becoming ill."