MOD civilian personnel sickness absence report: 1 April 2022
Published 19 January 2023
This report presents figures on Sickness Absence for civilian personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and Locally engaged civilians. Using data from the Ministry of Defence’s MyHR database - formerly Human Resource and Management System (HRMS), the tables present information about changes in the Average Number of Working Days Lost (AWDL), actual number of days lost, the number of instances of Sickness Absence and the distribution by ICD code.
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as Official Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Once statistics have been designated as Official Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
Definitions of terms used in this publication are present throughout the publication.
- MOD Annual Civilian Sickness Absence Background Quality Report
- MOD Annual Civilian Sickness Absence Excel ODS table
Main Points
MOD average working days absent per civilian personnel
In the 12 months to 31 March 2022 the number of average working days lost was 5.58. This is a decrease of 0.36 days compared with the previous 12 month period.
MOD civilian number of incidents of sickness absence
In the 12 months to 31 March 2022, the number of incidents of sickness absence was 52,810. This is an increase of 20,273 (62.3%) compared with the previous 12 month period.
MOD civilian personnel working days lost due to sickness
In the 12 months to 31 March 2022, the number of days lost to sickness absence 302,900. This is a decrease of 13,145 (4.2%) compared with the previous 12 month period.
MOD civilian personnel main causes of sickness absence
In the 12 months to 31 March 2022, the main causes of sickness absence have been:
Non-Industrial personnel
- Mental and behavioural disorders (25%)
- COVID-19 (16%)
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (14%)
Industrial personnel
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (24%)
- Mental and behavioural disorders (14%)
- COVID-19 (13%)
All tables and charts below are for 12 months ending at the reference point.
Absence days are Full Time Equivalent (FTE) working days lost. e.g. a part time employee (working 50% of full time hours) is sick for 7 calendar days, consequently this is 5 working days and then 2.5 FTE working days.
Figures exclude personnel classed as being on zero pay for any reason.
No sickness absence information is available for Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) or Locally Employed Civilians (LEC) so they are excluded.
Trading Fund personnel cannot be broken down by Industrial status.
The table below shows the average working days absent per person by TLB for MOD civilian personnel and the value of lost productivity for the MOD.
Summary Table: Average working days absent per person by TLB for MOD civilian personnel
Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 | Value of lost productivity of absence from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK Strategic Command | 5.39 | 5.25 | 5.07 | 5.48 | 5.25 | £ 7,634,756 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 8.35 | 7.60 | 7.02 | 7.23 | 6.99 | £ 5,803,010 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 7.36 | 6.93 | 6.74 | 7.05 | 6.62 | £ 9,306,957 |
HQ Air Command | 6.07 | 6.06 | 5.84 | 6.37 | 5.71 | £ 3,816,030 |
Army TLB | 6.02 | 5.84 | 5.79 | 6.43 | 6.02 | £ 7,661,632 |
Navy Command | 5.83 | 5.34 | 4.89 | 5.16 | 5.23 | £ 2,282,566 |
Unallocated | 0.48 | 0.41 | 2.02 | 2.64 | 3.43 | £ 0 |
Level 1 Total | 6.52 | 6.21 | 5.98 | 6.40 | 6.05 | £36,504,951 |
DE&S Trading Entity | 4.81 | 4.70 | 4.44 | 4.76 | 4.42 | [z] |
Trading Fund & Executive Agency | 4.63 | 4.39 | 4.08 | 4.67 | 4.87 | [z] |
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory | 5.11 | 4.76 | 4.44 | 4.89 | 5.58 | [z] |
UK Hydrographic Office | 4.88 | 4.66 | 3.32 | 5.13 | 3.77 | [z] |
Defence Nuclear Organisation | 3.44 | 3.51 | 3.63 | 4.07 | 3.91 | [z] |
Level 0 Total | 5.94 | 5.68 | 5.43 | 5.85 | 5.58 | [z] |
Chart A: Average working days absent per person MOD civilian personnel
Chart B: Value of lost productivity in £M of TLB’s civilian personnel sickness absence.
Table 1: Average working days absent per person by TLB split by Non Industrial and Industrial for MOD civilian personnel
Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 | Value of lost productivity of absence from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 [Note 5] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Industrial Total | 6.45 | 6.11 | 5.84 | 6.25 | 5.99 | £33,594,588 |
UK Strategic Command | 5.32 | 5.19 | 5.04 | 5.46 | 5.28 | £ 7,525,917 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 8.37 | 7.63 | 7.07 | 7.27 | 7.03 | £ 5,705,915 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 7.37 | 6.93 | 6.72 | 7.02 | 6.63 | £ 9,136,335 |
HQ Air Command | 5.88 | 5.66 | 5.19 | 5.62 | 5.11 | £ 2,852,255 |
Army TLB | 5.69 | 5.54 | 5.48 | 6.11 | 5.94 | £ 6,367,206 |
Navy Command | 5.62 | 5.09 | 4.56 | 4.96 | 5.10 | £ 2,006,960 |
Unallocated | 0.48 | 0.46 | 2.16 | 3.15 | 3.24 | £ 0 |
Industrial Total | 7.16 | 7.14 | 7.25 | 7.80 | 6.60 | £ 2,910,363 |
UK Strategic Command | 7.64 | 7.36 | 6.15 | 6.04 | 4.38 | £ 108,839 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 7.43 | 6.49 | 5.07 | 5.48 | 5.31 | £ 97,095 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 7.10 | 7.05 | 7.62 | 8.18 | 6.49 | £ 170,622 |
HQ Air Command | 6.75 | 7.57 | 8.32 | 9.17 | 7.99 | £ 963,775 |
Army TLB | 7.33 | 7.02 | 7.03 | 7.73 | 6.35 | £ 1,294,426 |
Navy Command | 7.08 | 6.83 | 6.85 | 6.35 | 6.04 | £ 275,606 |
Unallocated | [z] | [z] | 1.71 | 1.67 | 3.79 | £ 0 |
Level 1 Total | 6.52 | 6.21 | 5.98 | 6.40 | 6.05 | £36,504,951 |
DE&S Trading Entity Industrial and Non Industrial Total | 4.81 | 4.70 | 4.44 | 4.76 | 4.42 | [z] |
Trading Fund & Executive Agency Industrial and Non Industrial Total | 4.63 | 4.39 | 4.08 | 4.67 | 4.87 | [z] |
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory | 5.11 | 4.76 | 4.44 | 4.89 | 5.58 | [z] |
UK Hydrographic Office | 4.88 | 4.66 | 3.32 | 5.13 | 3.77 | [z] |
Defence Nuclear Organisation | 3.44 | 3.51 | 3.63 | 4.07 | 3.91 | [z] |
Level 0 Total | 5.94 | 5.68 | 5.43 | 5.85 | 5.58 | [z] |
Table 2: Number of incidents of sickness absence by TLB for MoD civilian personnel
Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Industrial Total | 19,250 | 22,173 | 25,181 | 29,589 | 31,545 |
UK Strategic Command | 4,263 | 4,935 | 5,700 | 6,832 | 7,285 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 4,029 | 4,528 | 4,939 | 5,704 | 6,143 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 5,087 | 5,765 | 6,615 | 7,834 | 8,176 |
HQ Air Command | 1,484 | 1,751 | 1,966 | 2,362 | 2,549 |
Army TLB | 3,339 | 3,984 | 4,557 | 5,238 | 5,655 |
Navy Command | 1,046 | 1,208 | 1,399 | 1,614 | 1,732 |
Unallocated | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Industrial Total | 1,641 | 1,943 | 2,283 | 2,632 | 2,702 |
UK Strategic Command | 73 | 81 | 98 | 114 | 122 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 94 | 107 | 118 | 133 | 142 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 176 | 186 | 196 | 224 | 184 |
HQ Air Command | 448 | 570 | 681 | 841 | 912 |
Army TLB | 687 | 796 | 946 | 1,030 | 1,037 |
Navy Command | 163 | 203 | 243 | 289 | 303 |
Unallocated | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] |
Level 1 Total | 20,891 | 24,116 | 27,464 | 32,221 | 34,247 |
DE&S Trading Entity Industrial and Non Industrial Total | 5,995 | 6,534 | 7,388 | 8,562 | 9,030 |
Trading Funds & Executive Agency Industrial and Non Industrial Total [Note 8] | 5,651 | 6,268 | 6,795 | 8,281 | 9,533 |
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory | 3,948 | 4,278 | 4,767 | 5,539 | 6,765 |
UK Hydrographic Office | 854 | 1,022 | 843 | 1,231 | 1,097 |
Defence Nuclear Organisation | 849 | 968 | 1,185 | 1,511 | 1,671 |
Level 0 Total | 32,537 | 36,918 | 41,647 | 49,064 | 52,810 |
Table 3: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by TLB for MOD civilian personnel
Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Industrial Total | 208,072 | 199,211 | 192,252 | 206,598 | 198,246 |
UK Strategic Command | 36,498 | 36,260 | 35,773 | 39,143 | 37,960 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 41,280 | 38,064 | 35,647 | 37,005 | 36,021 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 58,517 | 55,881 | 54,997 | 58,068 | 54,996 |
HQ Air Command | 19,700 | 19,088 | 17,671 | 19,231 | 17,519 |
Army TLB | 39,279 | 38,370 | 37,880 | 42,077 | 40,508 |
Navy Command | 12,796 | 11,546 | 10,267 | 11,052 | 11,219 |
Unallocated | - | - | 17 | 22 | 22 |
Industrial Total | 25,777 | 25,519 | 25,879 | 27,555 | 22,922 |
UK Strategic Command | 1,600 | 1,488 | 1,250 | 1,227 | 895 |
Defence Infrastructure Organisation | 901 | 780 | 606 | 653 | 632 |
Head Office & Corporate Services | 1,670 | 1,593 | 1,692 | 1,800 | 1,416 |
HQ Air Command | 6,121 | 6,770 | 7,466 | 8,396 | 7,312 |
Army TLB | 12,779 | 12,273 | 12,230 | 13,059 | 10,392 |
Navy Command | 2,706 | 2,616 | 2,629 | 2,415 | 2,261 |
Unallocated | [z] | [z] | 6 | 6 | 13 |
Level 1 Total | 233,849 | 224,730 | 218,132 | 234,152 | 221,168 |
DE&S Trading Entity Industrial and Non Industrial Total | 49,852 | 48,635 | 46,006 | 49,305 | 45,626 |
Trading Funds & Executive Agency Industrial and Non Industrial Total [Note 8] | 32,345 | 31,015 | 29,183 | 34,098 | 36,106 |
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory | 21,873 | 20,278 | 18,906 | 21,011 | 24,195 |
UK Hydrographic Office | 3,868 | 3,726 | 2,677 | 4,200 | 3,133 |
Defence Nuclear Organisation | 6,604 | 7,011 | 7,600 | 8,888 | 8,778 |
Level 0 Total | 316,045 | 304,381 | 293,320 | 317,555 | 302,900 |
Table 4: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Non-Industrial civilian personnel excluding Trading Funds and Executive Agencies.
ICD 10 Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Industrial Total (All ICD 10 Codes) | 208,072 | 199,211 | 192,252 | 206,598 | 198,246 |
(ACI) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 14,491 | 13,902 | 12,144 | 11,854 | 12,019 |
(BFO) Diseases of the blood forming organs and certain disorders | 2,122 | 1,805 | 1,654 | 1,731 | 1,369 |
(CIR) Diseases of the circulatory system | 9,935 | 9,229 | 8,257 | 9,045 | 9,208 |
(COV) COVID-19 | 27,530 | 20,270 | 22,215 | 25,643 | 30,745 |
(DDS) Diseases of the digestive system | 7,178 | 8,084 | 8,413 | 8,564 | 7,949 |
(DEM) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process | 1,429 | 1,510 | 1,203 | 1,365 | 1,123 |
(DEY) Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 2,367 | 2,465 | 2,387 | 2,758 | 2,618 |
(DGY) Diseases of the genito-urinary system | 6,349 | 6,943 | 6,239 | 6,125 | 6,599 |
(DRS) Diseases of the respiratory system | 6,694 | 7,668 | 8,544 | 13,464 | 13,994 |
(EMN) Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 1,290 | 1,694 | 1,623 | 1,557 | 1,173 |
(IPO) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 8,884 | 9,522 | 9,647 | 12,122 | 12,425 |
(MSD) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 30,892 | 30,485 | 30,099 | 29,924 | 27,599 |
(NGB) Neoplasms | 9,827 | 9,104 | 8,081 | 8,157 | 8,399 |
(NSS) Diseases of the nervous system | 6,485 | 6,794 | 6,924 | 7,410 | 6,121 |
(OPP) Factors influencing health status and contact with health service [Note 9] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] |
(PCP) Pregnancy, childbirth and the peurperium | 2,195 | 2,164 | 1,982 | 2,220 | 1,545 |
(PSD) Mental and behavioural disorders | 62,060 | 59,824 | 55,134 | 56,068 | 48,591 |
(SCO) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 1,038 | 1,018 | 955 | 944 | 808 |
(SID) Cause of Absence Not Yet Known | 7,304 | 6,732 | 6,751 | 7,646 | 5,960 |
Chart 4: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Non-Industrial civilian personnel, 12 months ending 31 March 2022
Table 5: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Industrial civilian personnel excluding Trading Funds and Executive Agencies.
ICD 10 Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial Total (All ICD 10 Codes) | 25,777 | 25,519 | 25,879 | 27,555 | 22,922 |
(ACI) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 2,915 | 2,911 | 2,587 | 2,272 | 1,878 |
(BFO) Diseases of the blood forming organs and certain disorders | 242 | 307 | 409 | 350 | 344 |
(CIR) Diseases of the circulatory system | 1,764 | 1,738 | 1,679 | 1,888 | 1,681 |
(COV) COVID-19 | 2,815 | 2,193 | 2,348 | 2,575 | 2,931 |
(DDS) Diseases of the digestive system | 888 | 1,072 | 1,303 | 1,294 | 1,006 |
(DEM) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process | 219 | 149 | 146 | 139 | 52 |
(DEY) Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 565 | 561 | 557 | 601 | 383 |
(DGY) Diseases of the genito-urinary system | 1,061 | 978 | 1,010 | 714 | 505 |
(DRS) Diseases of the respiratory system | 865 | 782 | 862 | 1,506 | 1,452 |
(EMN) Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 102 | 213 | 185 | 138 | 95 |
(IPO) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 1,301 | 1,327 | 1,286 | 1,462 | 1,036 |
(MSD) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 4,916 | 5,318 | 6,244 | 7,237 | 5,607 |
(NGB) Neoplasms | 2,188 | 1,866 | 1,871 | 1,966 | 1,530 |
(NSS) Diseases of the nervous system | 426 | 549 | 359 | 259 | 175 |
(OPP) Factors influencing health status and contact with health service [Note 9] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] |
(PCP) Pregnancy, childbirth and the peurperium | 176 | 58 | 16 | 16 | [z] |
(PSD) Mental and behavioural disorders | 4,185 | 4,182 | 3,756 | 3,791 | 3,239 |
(SCO) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 153 | 294 | 426 | 521 | 290 |
(SID) Cause of Absence Not Yet Known | 996 | 1,024 | 834 | 827 | 717 |
Chart 5: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Industrial civilian personnel, 12 months ending 31 March 2022
Table 6: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) civilian personnel.
ICD 10 Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE&S Trading Fund Total (All ICD 10 Codes) | 49,852 | 48,635 | 46,006 | 49,305 | 45,626 |
(ACI) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 2,017 | 1,975 | 1,767 | 2,023 | 1,977 |
(BFO) Diseases of the blood forming organs and certain disorders | 380 | 512 | 546 | 562 | 437 |
(CIR) Diseases of the circulatory system | 2,085 | 1,924 | 2,059 | 1,928 | 1,462 |
(COV) COVID-19 | 6,634 | 4,846 | 5,514 | 6,653 | 7,310 |
(DDS) Diseases of the digestive system | 1,902 | 1,909 | 1,959 | 2,250 | 2,017 |
(DEM) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process | 394 | 305 | 330 | 406 | 336 |
(DEY) Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 487 | 456 | 377 | 490 | 501 |
(DGY) Diseases of the genito-urinary system | 1,579 | 1,614 | 1,271 | 1,241 | 1,236 |
(DRS) Diseases of the respiratory system | 2,219 | 2,579 | 2,750 | 4,341 | 4,882 |
(EMN) Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 441 | 316 | 174 | 143 | 168 |
(IPO) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 3,053 | 3,099 | 3,126 | 3,452 | 3,326 |
(MSD) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 4,565 | 5,185 | 5,052 | 4,946 | 4,262 |
(NGB) Neoplasms | 2,826 | 2,618 | 2,291 | 2,424 | 1,976 |
(NSS) Diseases of the nervous system | 2,851 | 2,661 | 2,362 | 2,185 | 1,514 |
(OPP) Factors influencing health status and contact with health service [Note 9] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] | [z] |
(PCP) Pregnancy, childbirth and the peurperium | 1,166 | 1,093 | 918 | 875 | 794 |
(PSD) Mental and behavioural disorders | 15,246 | 15,286 | 13,570 | 13,539 | 12,088 |
(SCO) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 183 | 197 | 172 | 175 | 147 |
(SID) Cause of Absence Not Yet Known | 1,825 | 2,061 | 1,768 | 1,672 | 1,193 |
Chart 6: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for DE&S civilian personnel, 12 months ending 31 March 2022
Table 7: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Trading Fund and Executive Agency civilian personnel
ICD 10 Organisational Structure | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Jun-21 | 12 Months Ending 30-Sep-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Dec-21 | 12 Months Ending 31-Mar-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trading Fund & Executive Agency Total (All ICD 10 Codes) | 32,345 | 31,015 | 29,183 | 34,098 | 36,106 |
(ACI) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 709 | 1,111 | 1,318 | 1,495 | 395 |
(BFO) Diseases of the blood forming organs and certain disorders | 243 | 160 | 152 | 129 | 53 |
(CIR) Diseases of the circulatory system | 267 | 205 | 142 | 176 | 293 |
(COV) COVID-19 | 1,066 | 916 | 1,199 | 1,312 | 6,470 |
(DDS) Diseases of the digestive system | 1,276 | 1,268 | 1,252 | 1,468 | 730 |
(DEM) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process | 241 | 254 | 222 | 195 | 245 |
(DEY) Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 388 | 457 | 442 | 380 | 157 |
(DGY) Diseases of the genito-urinary system | 680 | 482 | 418 | 552 | 660 |
(DRS) Diseases of the respiratory system | 1,649 | 1,836 | 2,005 | 3,814 | 5,100 |
(EMN) Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 36 | 40 | 87 | 90 | 118 |
(IPO) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 1,689 | 1,963 | 2,508 | 3,200 | 2,588 |
(MSD) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 3,017 | 2,980 | 2,602 | 3,117 | 2,246 |
(NGB) Neoplasms | 876 | 1,450 | 1,711 | 1,683 | 972 |
(NSS) Diseases of the nervous system | 4,315 | 4,285 | 2,922 | 2,579 | 2,417 |
(OPP) Factors influencing health status and contact with health service | 2,256 | 2,073 | 1,706 | 1,532 | 2,822 |
(PCP) Pregnancy, childbirth and the peurperium | 676 | 558 | 323 | 309 | 227 |
(PSD) Mental and behavioural disorders | 7,232 | 6,516 | 5,474 | 6,420 | 6,178 |
(SCO) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 84 | 96 | 97 | 78 | 86 |
(SID) Cause of Absence Not Yet Known | 5,646 | 4,366 | 4,602 | 5,570 | 4,350 |
Chart 7: Number of working days lost due to sickness absence by ICD code for Trading Fund and Executive Agency civilian personnel, 12 months ending 31 March 2022
Chart C: Percentage of working days lost due to sickness absence by top five ICD codes for Non-Industrial civilian personnel compared against Industrial, DE&S and Trading Fund personnel, 12 months ending 31 March 2022
Symbols and Conventions
- [c] fewer than five
- [z] figure/calculation not applicable as data is zero or not of a sufficient size/calculation is not relevant
- [r] Revision
Rounding
Tables and Charts within this document
Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. This also applies to Civilian personnel data expressed in terms of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).
When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
Excel tables accompanying this publication
An updated MOD Disclosure Control and Rounding policy has been published on GOV.UK and we have applied this policy to the statistics on Civilian personnel in the accompanying Excel tables. The policy is available here.
Disclosure control will still be applied to statistical or numeric information to safeguard the confidentiality of individuals. ‘Disclosure control’ refers to the efforts made to reduce the risk of disclosure, such as applying statistical methods to protect ‘personally identifiable information’ (PII) in aggregate data tables. These safeguards can take many forms (e.g. data suppression, rounding, recoding etc.).
Revisions
Occasionally errors can occur in statistical processes; procedures are constantly reviewed to minimise this risk. Should a significant error be found the revisions will be highlighted in the Background Quality Report accompanying this publication.
In the 2021/22 report, the following revisions were made:
- Personnel not in receipt of pay (zero pay personnel) should be excluded from analysis in the Civilian Personnel Sickness Absence Annual Report. However, due to data quality issues some of these personnel have been included historically in the analysis.
- Due to low numbers of absence days lost within the Defence Electronic Components Agency (DECA) population, this population has historically been grouped with Head Office & Corporate Services (HO&Cs). Inconsistencies have been found in this methodology and have been revised accordingly.
- Due to undercounts in the sickness absence incidents and days lost, as a result of database processing issue, in the period capturing sickness absences in the 12 Months Ending 31 March 2020, revisions have been made to previously published figures.
- Due to the same database processing issues, minor revisions were also made in other periods. These had no significant impact on findings presented in previous reports. Revised figures have been represented with an [r] in data tables throughout this report. Analysis Civilian continue to monitor these data quality issues to ensure robust and accurate statistical processes are being followed.
Glossary
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
This United Kingdom Government department is responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. The principal objective of the MOD is to protect the United Kingdom and its values and interests abroad. The MOD manages day to day running of the Armed Forces, contingency planning and defence procurement.
Civilian Level 0
Top Level Budgetary areas (TLBs) Defence, Equipment & Support (DE&S) Trading Entity Trading Fund & Executive Agencies Royal Fleet Auxiliary Locally Engaged Civilians
For this publication Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Locally Engaged Civilians have been excluded from Civilian Level 0 Totals.
Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB)
The major organisational groupings of the MOD directly responsible for the planning, management and delivery of departmental capability.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Trading Entity
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) equips and supports the UK’s Armed Forces for current and future operations. It acquires and supports through-life, including disposal, equipment and services ranging from ships, aircraft, vehicles and weapons, to electronic systems and information services. DE&S satisfies on-going requirements including food, clothing, medical supplies, maintenance and temporary accommodation, as well as operating HM Naval Bases and the joint supply chain for land, sea and air.
Trading Funds
Trading Funds were introduced by the Government under the Trading Funds Act 1973 as a ‘means of financing trading operations of a government department which, hitherto, have been carried out on Vote’. They are self-accounting units that have greater freedom than other government departments in managing their own financial and management activities. They are also free to negotiate their own terms and conditions with their personnel and for this reason their grading structures do not always match that of the rest of the Ministry.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet, owned by the MOD, which supports Royal Navy ships around the world, supplying warships with fuel, ammunition and supplies. The RFA fleet is fully integrated into the RN’s command and control system and forms a vital part of maritime operations.
Locally engaged civilians
MOD employs a number of civilian personnel overseas, known as Locally engaged civilians (LECs). The definition of a Locally engaged civilian is an employee who has been recruited locally as a ‘servant of the Crown’. In other words, they have not been recruited through fair and open competition in the UK under the Civil Service Order in Council and they are not therefore members of the Home Civil Service or the Diplomatic Service. LECs are also employed on terms and conditions analogous with local employment law and market forces, and not those of the UK.
Army TLB (previously reported as Land Forces)
Performs a similar role to Navy Command within the context of trained Army formations and equipment.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
Established on 01 April 2011 replaced Defence Estates and includes TLB property and facilities management functions previously situated within other TLBs.
Head Office & Corporate Services (HO&CS)
Was established in April 2012. Lead areas of activity include Senior Finance Office (SFO) responsibility for ensuring that decisions are taken with due regard to affordability and value for money, acting as Head of Establishment for London HO Buildings and associated support requirements, Production of the Department’s Resource Accounts and Governance support for MOD Trading Funds.
HQ Air Command
Air Command incorporates the RAF’s Personnel and Training Command and Strike Command with a single fully integrated Headquarters, which equips the RAF to provide a coherent and coordinated single Air focus to the other Services, MOD Head Office, the Permanent Joint Headquarters and the rest of MOD.
Navy Command
Is the TLB for the Naval Service. As at 1 April 2010 Fleet TLB was renamed to Navy Command. Fleet TLB was formed on 1 April 2006 by the merger of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the Chief of Naval Personnel/ Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.
UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom - formerly Joint Forces Command (JFC))
Was established at 1 April 2012 to ensure that a range of military support functions covering medical services, training and education, intelligence and cyber are organised in an efficient and effective manner to support success on operations, supporting investment in joint capabilities, strengthening the links between operational theatres and top level decision making. Joint Forces Command achieved Full Operational Capacity as at 1 April 2013, absorbing additional support roles from lead service TLBs. As of October 2019 JFC changed their official title to UKStratcom.
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Is an Executive Agency. It supplies impartial scientific and technical research and advice to the MOD and other government departments.
Defence Nuclear Organisation
Is the sponsor for the SDA as an Executive Agency. It became an Executive Agency on a phased approach after splitting out from DE&S. It was reported as a full Executive agency on April 2018. While Defence Nuclear Organisation is considered a Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) personnel make up the majority of this organisation and SDA are considered a Trading Fund. Therefore, Defence Nuclear Organisation has been categorised as a Trading Fund in this publication. According to MOD administrative data systems, 2,400 people are classified as being within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO). As at April 2022 approximately 1950 of that population work within the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence and not part of MOD Main.
Approximately 450 personnel work within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), a TLB within MOD Main. The two populations are not separately identifiable on data provided for the purposes of producing Official Statistics on the MOD civilian workforce. Because the majority of the population classified as DNO on administrative data work for the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), an Executive Agency, this group is reported within ‘Trading Funds and Executive agencies’ as the Defence Nuclear Organisation, rather than as a MOD Main Top Level Budget.
UK Hydrographic Office
The UK Hydrographic Office is responsible for surveying the seas around the UK and other areas to aid navigation.
Full Time Equivalence (FTE)
Is a measure of the size of the workforce that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time. Prior to 1 April 1995 part-time employees were assumed to work 50 per cent of normal hours, but since then actual hours worked has been the preferred methodology. The average hours worked by part-time personnel is about 68 per cent of full-time hours.
ICD International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health–related Problems
ICD Is a coding system for diseases and signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, as classified by the World Health Organisation
Industrial
Industrial personnel are civilian personnel employed primarily in a trade, craft or other manual labour occupation. This covers a wide range of work such as industrial technicians, air freight handlers, storekeepers, vergers and drivers.
Non-Industrial
Civilian personnel who are not primarily employed in a trade, craft or other manual labour occupation. This covers a wide range of personnel undertaking work such as administration, analysis, policy, procurement, finance, medical, dental, teaching, policing, science & engineering.
Strength
The total number of personnel employed by the Department at or within a specific time period.
Working Days
This follows Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum number of sickness absence days at 225 days per person and excludes data for weekends, annual leave and bank holidays.
Working Days Lost
Average working days lost are the number of FTE days lost to sickness absence by civilian personnel within a 12 month rolling period.
Responsible statistician: Civilian Analysis Head of Branch
Further information/mailing list
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