Victorian Police accused of throwing too many 'sickies'

May 11 2009

A major campaign by Victorian Police aims to crackdown on the number of its officers taking 'sickies'.

The campaign, endorsed by Victoria's Police Commissioner Simon Overland, intends to resolve long-term sick leave cases and change the culture of members taking sick days which will apparently cost the force 130,000 days this financial year.

Mr Overland has reportedly suggested "there is a bit of bludging going on" which reflects the attitudes in the broader community - apparently some police have been taking unscheduled leave over and above that expected due to the effects of stress and shift work on their health.

Mr Overland says some tough decisions must be made and long-term cases will all be reviewed to determine who could eventually return and who should leave the force with a disability pension.

Reports say in the last financial year, Victorian police took 115,167 unplanned leave days - about 10.5 for the year for each officer - an 5.8% increase on the previous year, the most prevalent absentee days were Monday and Friday.

Commissioner Overland says while stressful duties and shift work tended to raise the risk of ill health, some police were taking unwarranted sick leave - police figures show 400 cases of long-term sick leave, with the longest a case of seven years.

Police Association secretary Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said lack of police numbers was causing police to report sick and he has disputed police long-term sick leave figures and saying the number was 127.

The review was ordered late last year by then chief commissioner Christine Nixon, and since then 188 cases have been resolved with the officers returning to their original positions, being transferred to more appropriate duties or retiring due to disability but 212 "complex cases" remain under review.

Police can claim five sick days without medical certificates and another 10 with a doctor's letter and Commissioner Overland says when people are sick they must stay home and get well, but there has been a cultural change and some are taking sickies.

He says the reality is if 100 people are off on long-term sick leave that can be 100 less operational police on the streets and while there is an obligation to police officers who are sick, there is also an obligation to the police workforce and the community.

Sergent Davies says that figure will continue to rise while the force remains under-resourced and the allocation of 50 additional police officers in a state approaching six million people is a 'drop in the bucket'.

Sergent Davies says if the police are expected to do more and more with a shrinking resource base every year, then it is inevitable that there must be more sick leave.

He says senior police at district level need to be more flexible to help members with long-term health issues return to work, policing was dangerous and one-in-12 police will suffer an injury that requires WorkCover compensation every year.