Ryedale District Council has drawn up a review of potential benefits to offer employees, which could also include long-serving workers getting more holiday time and a reworked pay structure.

The authority’s overview and scrutiny committee will discuss the matter next week – but UNISON, which represents many of its staff, says it is unhappy about some elements of the scheme.

The union was invited to comment on a briefing note produced by the council – listing 13 possible changes to its current procedure and focusing on sickness absence – which includes introducing “additional increments for exceptional performance”, attendance awards for staff who have not taken sick leave in a year and £50 “thank-you” payments for good service.

But UNISON fears this could penalise workers who have to take time off because of illness and says the potential bonus scheme may create problems.

In a report, the council’s head of organisational development, Louise Sandall, said: “Ryedale is currently in the stages of reviewing its human resources policies and procedures to ensure they are up-to-date and reflect best practice.”

The committee will be asked to recommend further action which could improve the council’s sickness absence levels.