Biggest causes of sick leave at council revealed

STRESS, depression, and anxiety continue to be the leading causes of sick leave in Gateshead Council employees, despite falling rates.

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Recovering from operations and musculoskeletal problems are the second and third respectively.

An ageing workforce has been highlighted as a reason behind the high levels of absences for these issues. According to the local authority's annual health and safety report, while the percentage of stress, anxiety, and depression-related absences has fallen it still accounts for over a quarter of sick days.