Mental health leave rising among Sudbury city employees

The city of Greater Sudbury says it seeing is seeing a sharp rise in employees taking mental health leave.

Human resources manager Kevin Fowke told city council last week that more and more workers are taking time off for mental illness. It now accounts for one quarter of all leave, he said.

City management is working on ways to get those numbers down and workers have a part to play as well, he added.

"I think that every employer has a right to make sure that they've got a cooperating absent employee who's doing their level best to make sure they return to work as well."

The union that represents most city workers said a rise in mental health leave is a trend playing out in most workplaces, and is not an issue that has easy solutions.

"The problem is it's not something you can just throw money at. You can double these people's salary, it's not going to fix the problem," said Darryl Taylor, the president of CUPE 4705.

The increase in mental health leave is also impacting the city budget and taxpayers, but Fowke said exact numbers on that haven't been worked out.

Concern about 'employment brand'

Fowke also told council he is worried about the city's "employment brand," saying he's noticed that young people are not as keen on a job in public service, or in municipal government.

"Being in the minds of prospective employees as a quality place to work with not just good benefits and a pension. If the best part about your shop is you get to leave lots and you get to leave early, you got a problem with your employment brand," he said.

Fowke said the issue hasn't led to problems filling job openings at city hall, but fears it might in the future.

Although he did say some technical positions with strict qualifications have taken months to fill.