Reducing your employee absence rates
According to the most recent statistics, in the UK the yearly cost of sickness absence per employee is as high as £522.
Direct costs of sickness can include statutory sick pay, occupational sick pay, costs of paying for additional overtime and temporary shift cover. Indirectly costs can also include lost profits.
How absence rates affect employees
High rates of absences can have a negative affect on the overall morale and productivity of employees within the business.
Increasing workloads and unforeseen overtime for staff covering for absent co-workers can lead to stress and frustration causing further absences throughout the teams.
Improving absence rates
There are many procedures you can implement to ensure your absence rates remain at an acceptable level.
Many companies have incorporated return-to-work interviews as a method of establishing reasons for absences and to discourage staff from taking time off when they do not have a satisfactory reason to do so.
Restricting sick pay and including absence management in disciplinary procedures are other used methods to reduce sick days taken without good reason. However, in cases where employees are suffering from long term conditions or mental health problems exceptions should be given, as a business’ practice could otherwise be seen as discriminatory.
Further more positive preventative measures include the promoting of healthy living and allowing flexible working or giving employees the option to work from home in special circumstances.
