‘Presenteeism’ is affecting officer health and wellbeing

OFFICER health and wellbeing is at risk from presenteeism – working when you are ill or working when you should be on leave.

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent says officer welfare is at the top of his agenda and that they need to get the right amount of rest and recuperation.

He’s backing calls from the Superintendents’ Association to ensure their members take the breaks they need and encourage officers to do the same.

“I totally agree with the Superintendents’ Association,” he said.

“Presenteeism can, in my view, have a profound effect on people’s health and life quality. We’ve all been to work when we’re poorly and probably not fit for work, but what’s that achieved?

“You’ve then had a situation when you subsequently performed below par for days and weeks after because you’re worn out when a day or two out could have reset your batteries.

“I passionately believe that if people need a rest and a break they should take it. That goes for all ranks. The fear of letting people above and below down, the feeling I’m letting people down, has got to change.

“It needs a culture change and with respect to the police a better understanding from managers of all ranks really to understand the regulations and working time directives in more details,” he said.

“The default position in my view, and this has always been the case, always should be to support rather than to punish and discipline. When people reach that point they do need to take a step back and they should be supported if they need to do that.”

Steve hopes the leadership shown by the Superintendents Association will filter through to all officers.

“There’s a bit of a macho mentality that if you go off and you go off because you’ve got a bit of work- related stress or whatever that you’re less of a cop. I think that’s changing a little bit.

We need to have that focus on mental health as well as physical health. We’re all too good at risk assessing jobs in case we get physically hurt and we stand off. But we don’t stand off on mental health reasons for our officers, do we?

“It’s not treated in the same way at all and as far as I’m concerned I’d rather have a broken nose than suffer with severe stress. One of them can last for months and years potentially, and one of them can last a couple of weeks.

“I think that message of support rather than punish needs to come from leadership.”