Ministers have challenged all Departments to reduce their 2004 sickness rates by 30% by 2010. This report looks at the sickness levels in the Department of Transport and its seven executive agencies, which average 10.4 days sickness for each full-time employee (compared to a Civil Service average of 9.8 days). However the performance is varied. The central Department and four agencies have sickness levels at or below comparable organisations but three agencies have higher levels and the Driving Standards Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency have absence rates of 13.1 and 14 day respectively. If there is going to be a significant change there needs to be action at the corporate and individual business level. Corporately there needs to be: targets for each part of the Department, tailored to circumstances; quality standards for recording sickness with the provision of management information; a consistent framework for evaluating initiatives and sharing good practice. At a business level more could be done to ensure that line managers were aware of their responsibilities and improve intervention in long-term cases.

The Department of Transport and its seven executive agencies average 10.4 days of sickness for each full-time employee (compared to a Civil Service average of 9.8 days). However the performance is varied. The central Department and four agencies have sickness levels at or below comparable organisations but the Driving Standards Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency have absence rates of 13.1 and 14 day respectively. On the basis of a Comptroller and Auditor General's report the Committee have examined current sickness levels in the Department and actions being taken to meet their 2010 targets. They conclude that the Agencies need a better understanding of why some staff take so much sick leave. Although there appears to be a correlation with low paid repetitive administrative jobs there are also concerns about leadership within the Department. Measures have therefore been taken to strengthen management in areas involving repetitive work.

This NAO report examines sick leave in the National Probation Service, which was running at 12.3 days per person in the 2004-05 period at a cost of £31.6 million. A number of recommendations have been set out as follows. That the National Probation Directorate should agree with the Chief Probation Officer a consistent minimum standard for collecting and reporting sickness absence data in their areas. This in turn could be used to produce comparative analyses, and offer a basis to diagnose the causes of sickness absence. An upgrade in some areas of their information technology systems should occur, so that better management information can be compiled. All probation areas should implement the mandatory elements of the national policy on sickness absence. All Chief Officers should review their action plans for reducing sickness absence. Sickness absence should be managed effectively but sympathetically, by including return to work interviews, along with a means of distinguishing between avoidable and unavoidable sickness absences, and addressing the culture of absenteeism. Long term sickness absence should be reviewed as a matter of urgency. Policies relating to work/life balance should be implemented nationally.

Please note: this title will publish in January 2012. This textbook explores the policies and practices employed in the management of people working in the tourism, hospitality and events industries. It considers the nature of these industries and the varied approaches that organizations take with the handling of matters such as recruitment, health and welfare and remuneration. This book is enriched with topical case studies that describe and illustrate the human resource management behaviour of airlines, hotel chains and other international companies in the sector, providing real world industry perspective. With a clear, reader friendly layout containing chapter outlines and objectives and examples of best practice, this is the ideal guide to HRM for any student on a hospitality, tourism or related course.

Using their extensive experience teaching and working in HRM, Banfield, Kay, and Royles succinctly convey the reality of contemporary HRM through expert academic and practical insights. Their balanced approach ensures students are able to fully grasp both the theory and practice of HRM, paving the way for success in their academic studies and future careers. With its engaging writing style, this book is the ideal introduction to HRM for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Key terms, research insights, and review questions help students understand the key theoretical concepts and think critically about the issues discussed. Mini-case studies (HRM insights), longer end-of-chapter case studies, and practitioner insights from real HR professionals at a variety of organizations present different scenarios and challenges experienced in the world of business. This range of learning features ensures students are exposed to both the theoretical foundations and the real-life practices of HRM. The book takes a holistic approach to the subject, presenting HR operations and considerations as an integral part of any business. The authors begin by introducing the reader to the challenges and the evolution of the HR function before addressing key operational areas such as talent management, ethics, leadership, recruitment, and misconduct. They go on to explore how these challenges are managed, with an emphasis on practicality. ONLINE RESOURCES: For Students: *Insights and Outcomes *Extension Material *Glossary *Web Links *Multiple-choice Questions *Chapter on Health and Safety For Lecturers: *Test Bank *Suggested Answers to Case Study Questions *Suggested Answers to Review Questions *Additional Case Material *PowerPoint Slides *Seminar Exercises

This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States. It deals specifically with the management of potentially chronic l pain, how to assess patients with pain, the factors involved in the development of chronic pain and the setting up and running of a pain management programme. The main focus is on musculoskeletal and fibromyalgic type pain. Cancer pain is not addressed. The authors address not only what is recommended in the management of pain but also whether and why it is done, thereby covering not only the content of interdisciplinary pain management but also the processes involved. - Provides extensive background material and covers broad issues which other books lack - Focuses on not only what is done with the management of pain but whether and why it is done - Includes the nuts and bolts of setting up and running a pain management programme - Addresses the application of pain management programmes in a wide range of fields - Has a multidisciplinary approach and therefore appeals to a multidisciplinary market - Two new co-authors: Kay Greasley and Bengt Sjolund. - Major restructuring of chapters and rewriting of content with new authors for many of them. - Greatly increased discussion of biopsychosocial management in individual clinical practice. - Addresses the needs of the individual practitioners as well as those working in specialised pain management units. - Includes more on primary care and secondary pain prevention. - Expanded discussion of the clinical-occupational interfaces. - Particular emphasis on the identification and targeting of modifiable risk factors for chronic pain and prolonged disability. - The following topics stregthened throughout: communication, the nature of groups, medication and iatrogenics. - Potential of an evidence-based biopsychosocial approach to pain management highlighted.