THE manager of a company whose 6,000 staff take off more than 88,000 days sick in one year would be sacked. So what is happening at Bury Council?

Stress, depression, colds, flu, and back and neck problems seem to be the main reasons for this appalling number of absentees and it is therefore no surprise that Bury is at the bottom of the absentee rate league (Bury Times, Dec 6).

What a soft society we have become. The mere mention of the word "stress" enrages me. It appears to be a buzz word. But if it means "pressures of life", then surely we are all sufferers.

I suggest the council could save thousands of pounds if they introduced an incentive for good attendance. It should not be necessary, but it is possibly the only way to improve attendance levels with this soft lot.

Also, if council workers find their jobs too stressful and can't stand the heat, maybe they should get out of the "kitchen" and find an easier job.

How many days have I felt under the weather, had a cold, flu, backache and many worries? Countless! How many days have I called in sick? None. Am I special? No, just self-employed like thousands of others. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

So, to those of you at the council who are suffering from stress and are contemplating taking your "annual sick leave", please consider whether you are being fair to Bury?

And to the voters I would say: does your town deserve stronger management?

SICKENED

BY SOFTIES