Sickness absence at IoM Fire and Rescue Service

Summary

A request was made for sickness absence figures for the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, including specific data on full-time firefighters and five-year comparisons. The Department of Home Affairs provided some held information but could not supply data on multiple absences for specific individuals or precise full-time firefighter breakdowns due to analytical limitations.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2019-11-05 and responded to on 2019-11-19.
• The authority stated it does not hold or cannot find some of the requested information.
• Data on multiple absences for specific individuals was excluded from the analysis.
• Percentage figures fluctuate due to changes in staff numbers from recruitment and retirements.
• The response included enclosed copies of the information that was held.

Data Disclosed

• 2019-11-05
• 2019-11-19
• 1031329
• last five years
• November 2019

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps

Original Request

Please supply figures for levels of sickness absence at the IoM Fire and Rescue Service - by number of individuals and percentage of workforce - as at the beginning of November 2019, and comparison figures for each of the last five years. How many of those on sickness absence are full-time firefighters?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive's Office DHA Headquarters Tromode, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 694313 Fax: (01624) 621298 Web address: www.gov.im/dha Email: GeneralEnquiries.DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 1031329 19 November 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 5 November 2019 and which states:

"Please supply figures for levels of sickness absence at the IoM Fire and Rescue Service - by number of individuals and percentage of workforce - as at the beginning of November 2019, and comparison figures for each of the last five years. How many of those on sickness absence are full-time firefighters?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. Please note that occasions of multiple absences for specific individuals is not factored into this analysis as it would be very difficult to drill down into the figures to such a level. The percentage figure will also fluctuate slightly over the years due to the fact that the number of staff employed by the Service also fluctuates due to recruitment/retirements and so on. I have enclosed copies of the information that is held.

Please quote the reference number 1031329 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Mrs ### Department of Home Affairs