COUNCIL workers in Worcester took nearly two weeks off sick last year - with the figures rising a worrying 12 per cent.

Worcester City Council is going to send its managers on special training courses after data revealed how the average staff member took 9.1 days off in 2014/15.

The shock figure is a rise on the 8.1 days recorded the previous year, a figure which already outstripped the private sector and other comparable authorities.

It also follows a trumpeted crackdown on staff absences, which was launched in 2012 after the rate hit nearly 12 days, including slashing sick pay to 90 per cent of a worker's salary.

Staff were also put through health checks, at the cost of the taxpayer, to try and keep on top of any developing problems.

Although that had an impact, the council now says it intends to review its sickness policies in more detail after the rise.

Bosses are also being sent on special training programmes in October so they can better spot employees showing early signs of mental ill health.

During staff surveys stress was highlighted as a significant factor behind the absences, which led to the suggestion.

A spokesman said: "We will be reviewing our sickness policies to further improve absence management.

"Next month all our managers will attend a 'leading with resilience and managing mental health in the workplace' training programme.

"The aim is to make managers feel more confident, so they can proactively manage and support an employee with or showing the early signs of mental ill health."

Each financial year runs to the end of March, with figures for the spring and summer period also showing no lessening of the absences.

Data for April to June, the first quarter of 2015/16, shows the sickness rate to be 1.8 days - slightly worse than the same period in the previous financial year.

The annual average is just under eight days at Worcestershire County Council and less than six at Malvern Hills.

Workers in the private sector take off 4.4 days a year on average according to the Office for National Statistics - a tally which has dropped to its lowest level this century.