• Average government employee took 10.4 sick days in 2009-19, average Sask worker took 8.2 days

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released data today on sick time used up by Saskatchewan government employees. According to a freedom of information response, the average government employee took 10.4 sick days in 2009-10, up from 10.0 days in 2008-09.

By comparison, Statistics Canada data shows the average Sask worker took 8.2 sick days in 2009; 21 per cent fewer days than provincial government workers. If the government could reduce sick time usage to the same levels as the average Sask worker, millions of tax dollars could be saved annually.

“Taxpayers could save millions if the average provincial government employee could get by on the same number of sick days as the average Saskatchewan worker” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “Unfortunately government sick time costs are going up.”

Sick Time Usage

Note: Sick Days/FTE denotes the number of sick days taken per full time employees. Also, the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation was spun off into an arm’s length body.

“Getting sick time usage under control represents a big opportunity for the government,” added Craig. “We look forward to seeing a strategy to reduce these costs going forward.”

By: Colin Craig
Posted: May 30, 2011
Topic: Saskatchewan

Contact the regional director Colin Craig for further information.

Type: News Releases

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