What is absence management?

Absence management is an important way in which a company can support staff with health issues to stay in or return to work, whilst at the same time monitoring and managing those individuals that take unjustifiable time off.

Effective absence management is crucial for businesses looking to lower their costs and boost employee morale. Missed days at work are incredibly costly for the majority of UK businesses. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) estimates the annual cost of sickness absence for UK businesses is around £554 per employee, with an average of 5.6 days off per employee. The cost of employee absence is expected to rise to £26bn by the end of this decade.

In addition to the direct costs, employee absence can have a significant impact on the productivity of your workforce, often leading to feelings of demotivation from employees that have to cover absentees’ work. Low motivation is a common cause of reduced productivity, and lower productivity levels will be reflected in your business’s finances, which are in turn reflected in the economy. Sickness absence and presenteeism in the workplace cost the UK economy almost £92bn in 2019.

What should an absence policy cover?

A standard absence policy will make clear exactly what is expected from both the employer and employee if the employee needs to take time off work. It needs to cover off information about:

• How absence is monitored
• Leave for Short- and long-term sickness
• Notes for sickness
• How to report and keep track of absences
• Certification
• Sick pay
• Review points
• Return to work interviews
• Reasonable adjustments and phased return to work

If an employer has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or provides occupational health, the policy will also need to include information on those and how the employee will be supported upon their return to work.

There is a lot that needs to go into an absence policy and it is important to get it right, which is why we would always recommend hiring a specialist to take care of this for you.

Help with employee absence management

From experience, we know that a major concern for employers is how to handle absence. Short-term absence due to sickness (sick leave) can be disruptive and unfair on other staff burdened with extra work.

By introducing return-to-work interviews and measuring tools, as well as training managers in using them, we can make a significant difference.

There are many ways you can use the data about absence to improve performance. One of the most well known is the Bradford factor system and The HR Dept can help you analyse your data and apply trigger points that work for your company.

It’s important to note that long-term employee absence may well be classified as a disability. In these circumstances the individual is protected from workplace discrimination.

Working with occupational health professionals, we can find reasonable adjustments and plan phased returns with employee absence management. And if this is not possible within a reasonable time-frame, terminate the employment legally, allowing you to recruit again.

Access to medical records and occupational health reports

To be able to understand the nature of an employee’s illness and how you can help them return to work you can ask their GP for a report or go to an occupational health professional. You will need to explain to the employee their rights and have a signed form. This is something we can provide.

The GP is entitled to charge for this report.

Occupational health reports are particularly helpful where reasonable adjustments are required. Where an employee will require special equipment to return to work you can approach Access to Work for support.

We’ll also help you manage attendance

We can take your time and attendance management to the next level with our advanced and easy-to-use systems.

Employee timekeeping can be a significant concern for employers. Especially in businesses that depend on a clocking-in system. Having nothing in place, or a weak solution, can encourage lateness and absenteeism, reduce productivity, cause stress to managers and affect employer-employee relations.

We offer a hi-tech solution. It integrates seamlessly with your business and can be operated over multiple sites if necessary.

All of the data in the system is stored in the cloud in real-time. It is accessible online, anywhere, at any time.

There’s no need to install software, it’s a straight-out-of-the-box solution without the IT fuss that can distract you from the day-to-day running of your business.

The system can be configured to allow staff to clock-in in six advanced ways:

• Smartphone app
• Phone
• Fingerprint
• Facial scan
• Swipe card
• Internet

Other ways to manage short term absences

• Having a robust set of absence management policies will go a long way in helping to discourage phoney sick days.
• Good working conditions play a vital role in making the workplace somewhere employees actually want to be.
• Having high health, safety and welfare standards will ensure your employees feel safe at work.
• Taking proactive measures to support your employees’ health and wellbeing will help them feel supported and looked after.
• Good record-keeping systems will help you to understand trends that may require HR intervention.
• Keeping a record of facts and statistics will allow line managers to monitor absence more effectively.
• Policies that focus on equal opportunities and anti-discrimination can help to build an inclusive workforce and improve office culture.
• Policies that reflect a healthy work-life balance, such as flexible working hours, can also have a positive impact on reducing absences
• Training and teamwork exercises are good ways to motivate your workforce and boost morale.

Up next read more about disciplinaries and grievances