Industrial action is threatened at ITV Digitals Pembrokeshire call centre in protest at a new get-tough policy on staff sick leave.

Employees who are absent twice within a 12-week period have been warned that the first stages of disciplinary action may be implemented. Manager Cathy Corboy says the rule also applies to staff whose annual absenteeism from the Pembroke Dock site exceeds ten days. Staff may be punished for clocking-on late, she warns.

The first stages of absence-related disciplinary action will also be implemented if you are late starting your allocated shift on three occasions, she has told staff in an Attendance Management document. I am sure you will agree that this is a sensible approach to a very important issue for the contact centre and will join me in fully embracing the new procedure.

But staff are unconvinced, complaining that the new code punishes the majority who take time off because they are genuinely ill. The Western Telegraph has received several telephone calls on this issue and there is a hint of industrial action by staff who are members of the Transport and General Workers Union. One caller, a customer service representative, views the policy as too harsh.

There is quite a lot of unrest about this, he says. The job is stressful enough anyway. We have to deal with telephone calls from customers who take out their problems on us, it is never ITV Digitals fault, always the person at the end of the phone. The shifts arent easy for everyone either, but we have to take the jobs because there is nothing else here. ITV Digital has defended its new policy and insists it was drawn up in consultation with its employee consultative group.