A Midland council will axe a day’s paid holiday given as a reward if staff do not call in sick, it was revealed today.

A shake-up at Wolverhampton City Council, which employs around 6,400 people across its departments excluding schools, will also see sick pay slashed for those with repeated or regular patterns of short term absence.

Council staff are currently taking an average of 9.2 days off sick each a year, compared to the private sector average of 6.4 days.

The council loses £5 million a year due to employee sickness. But it is trying to save £36m this year and £31m in 2012/13.

The changes could save £1m. The extra day’s holiday costs £310,000 alone. If approved, staff could be stripped of the benefit from next April.

Human resources chief Councillor Milkinder Jaspal said the system had to change.

He said: “It is not good for a local authority to be doing this. We need to be available to provide services.”

Adrian Turner, spokesman for trade union Unison said: “We want to sit down and discuss this with the council, particularly if it will save jobs otherwise at risk due to cuts.”

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