Deputy Andy Cameron, who obtained the figures, says it shows 'absence is moving in the wrong direction.'
Deputy Cameron obtained the sickness figures for Guernsey's public sector from Policy and Resources under a written question known as Rule 14.
The figures set out in the table below cover all 17 States of Guernsey staff groups from hospital and social care staff, civil servants, police and front line workers. P&R caution this is why direct comparisons with the other jurisdictions will not be accurate.
The figures show, in Deputy Cameron's words on social media, that 'absence is moving in the wrong direction, double private sector levels, and several days higher per employee than Jersey’s.'
A States of Guernsey employee takes on average 11 sick days a year and he estimates that a single sick day costs the States £250 - or nearly £17M in 2025 - and deputy Cameron believes that is a conservative figure.
He says Guernsey's stats are a sign of 'wider organisational problems that need to be tackled properly.'
'When absence rises, the pressure on remaining staff rises too, damaging morale, well being and retention.
'It quickly become a vicious circle, where higher stress and heavier workloads make it more likely that others end up going off sick as well.
'Many civil servants I speak to say this is their number one gripe about working in the system.'
P&R says non worked related stress accounts for 20% of sickness, higher than work related at 11%.
17% of staff on long term sick - four consecutive weeks or more - cite work stress.
The States say extensive help is available for employees who become ill, including support from their manager and Occupational Health.
It says managers and HR monitor sickness and hold back to work interviews where employees can raise work related concerns.
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