STAFF illness cost Basildon Council £1million making it one of the sickest councils in the country.

During the past year there were 858 short term and 96 long term absences.

On average every staff member is off ill for more than two weeks every year and the figure is rising.

A report, presented to the council’s performance and scrutiny committee, revealed the most common cause was cold and flu.

Independent Councillor Stephen Hodge called the absences “worrying” because the council has been offering free flu vaccinations to all employees with only ten per cent taking up the offer.

About 85 per cent of those off work with flu had turned down the flu vaccine costing the council 570 days worth of work.

Tory Councillor, and committee chairman, Malcolm Buckley suggested the council could try and cancel sick pay for those with colds and flu who had refused the vaccine.

He said: “I liken it to if you have an accident when driving a car, if you fail to wear your seatbelt the compensation you get will be less than if you were wearing it.

“In other words, you could have done something to protect your own health and well-being.”

Other causes of short-term absences include diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle ache and chest infections.

Cases of diarrhoea and vomiting have fallen since 2014 from 345 days lost to 307 in 2017 and the council is hoping to reduce it further with a scheme that provides employees with educational information on personal hygiene.

Labour Councillor Olukayode Adeniran suggested the council considers making further investments into health due to the amount of money being lost.

But a council officer said a better approach would be to break down which areas are experiencing the greatest number of absences and undertake targeted schemes to promote available health benefits.

Mr Buckley said: “Refuse workers, waste collectors, street sweepers and the like are the people most likely to be exposed to short-term ill health and we have a duty of care to our staff.”

The leading cause of long-term absence was stress and personal matters, then chemotherapy and depression.