Latest News: Attendence Issues
The Communication Workers Union says that only continued investment in Royal Mail's workforce would see further improvements to attendance levels.

Royal Mail has announced it will be extending a scheme to reduce sickness absence which gives those with the best attendance records the chance to win cars and holiday vouchers. Sickness absenteeism fell between August and January, but CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said this has to be viewed in context.

"Over the last 18 months our members have benefited from pay increases of more than 18 per cent. Their working week has also been reduced from six days to five. It is only that kind of investment and improvement that will ensure absenteeism continues to fall. We have no problem at all with people winning cars and holiday vouchers, but giveaways are not the reason why attendance levels have improved and they are certainly not a substitute for continuing to invest in our members' overall employment package."

Royal Mail claim its latest initiative includes 'maintaining closer contact with people who take time off sick to ensure they are getting the right level of support'.Dave said: "If you've been carrying a heavy bag around on a long delivery and are unfit to attend work the next day because of a bad back, what level of support is your manager actually supposed to provide? Drop everything they're doing and pop round to give a massage?"

"There have been some cases where managers have been making daily calls to our members demanding to know when they will return to work. That isn't support - it's harassment - and it will do nothing to create a positive environment that encourages good levels of attendance."

"The challenge for both the CWU and Royal Mail is to continue the progress we have made and to put long-term investment into the pay, conditions and working environment of our people."