BURNLEY Council’s action plan to keep its workforce healthy is working, according to new figures.

Last year, the council set an objective to cut down on the number of sick days taken by its employees.

Latest statistics show it is on target to hit its six days per employee absence rate for this year.

This compares to 7.32 per staff member days for 2011/12 According to the council document, which is set to go before members tomorrow, short-term absence levels are being maintained at a low level.

Heather Brennan, personnel director at Burnley Council, said in the report: “This is a significant factor in maintaining lower absence levels overall and improving performance in the organisation.

“It is also evidence of the improved effectiveness of attendance management.”

To try and cut down on sick leave, the council has introduced a number of schemes to encourage staff to be more active and get their health checked out They include bike to work week, prostate tests for male employees, yoga clubs and weekly weigh-ins.

Long-term absence is also much lower than at the same period as last year, although the organisation does have a small number of staff who are off sick long term and are being managed.

The top causes of absence between April and June 2013 continued to be stress, depression and anxiety, which accounted for 29.4 per cent of all absences.

The housing and development control department had the highest sickness absence figure for the quarter.

However, 69.9 per cent of all employees managed a 100 per cent attendance rate for the three-month period.

Council leader Julie Cooper said: “I am very impressed by the commitment of the staff at Burnley Council.”