Many factors can make or break a company, and your employees are a big part of that. Absenteeism is a stressful and costly situation for all parties involved. Whether an employee misses one day or one week of work, their absence has a rippling effect on their workload, team and management.
Having a great workforce can spell the difference between success and failure. The happier and healthier employees are, the more likely it will be that the company will be successful
But as we know it isn’t always guaranteed. By identifying the true cause of an employee’s absence, you can get to the root of the problem, give them the support they need, and develop a plan that helps both them and the team succeed.
What Is Absenteeism?
Absenteeism is when an employee consistently doesn’t appear for work at their scheduled time. This is true of both full-time and shift-working employees, and it is generally unplanned and without good reason.
While it is typical to miss work every so often, due to illness or an emergency, absenteeism becomes an issue when it happens time and time again. In addition to that, when it impacts more than just the single employee.
The Types Of Absenteeism
Three different types of absenteeism have an impact on any company: scheduled, unscheduled, and partial shift.
Scheduled are the days you have booked off. Unscheduled are absences like sick days, disability and workers compensation leave. On the other hand, partial shift absences are when an employee arrives late, takes longer breaks, leaves early or doesn’t turn up to work and doesn’t notify anybody.
Employers expect employees to allocate a certain number of days a year where they aren’t at work, but when employees take advantage of the unscheduled absences, it can decrease productivity and eventually have an effect on your business’ finances.
Unscheduled absenteeism can cost up to £3,600 per year, but some employers don’t measure its impact regularly. Employers should be aware of how often their employees are absent from work without a valid reason so they can better manage its effect on their business. To do this, you must first understand the intricacies that may cause an employee to be absent.
What Are The Causes Of Absenteeism?
Understanding the causes of absenteeism will allow you to reduce it within the workplace. Here are some common causes of absenteeism:
- Bullying and harassment
- Stress and burnout
- Family commitments
- Mental health problems
- Low morale
- Bereavement
- Illness
Tips To Reduce Absenteeism In The Workplace
The impact of absenteeism is felt directly across the business, putting pressure on productivity and profitability. Senior leaders can address the root and make strides towards reducing absenteeism in the workplace.
Here are some tips:
Create An Absence Policy
To get a grip of the problem and take back control, you must develop and invest your time and effort into an absence policy. This sets a standard for the company and a clear understanding of what is expected.
When establishing your policy, clarity is the golden rule. There should be no loopholes that employees could take advantage of, and employees should know exactly what absenteeism is.
Reward Good Attendance
Creating an environment where attendance is praised with give your employees a target. This will encourage all to attend and show employees who are always at work that you value them.
Planning this carefully is crucial as employees may have a genuine reason for being off, such as long term illness.
Improve And Prioritise Wellbeing
Absenteeism is often linked to workplace stress or an unhealthy working environment. A way to reduce stress within the workplace is to prioritise employee wellbeing. Implementing a wellness program that includes 1:1 support, workplace app will all help fight the elephant in the room that comes with the stigma of mental health.
Make looking after your employees’ health one of your top priorities. Physical and mental health are essential to an engaged and productive workforce.
Offer Flexible Working
Offering flexible working hours is an excellent idea to increase your employees’ wellbeing and their attachment to the organisation. You should therefore consider introducing flexible schedules and remote work.
Provide Feedback/Gratitude
You should provide your employees with frequent feedback, preferably including gratitude, especially when they’ve done something well. If you never provide either of these, your employees may feel that you don’t appreciate their hard efforts and feelings and you, therefore, won’t notice when they’re not at work.
Wellspace: Get In Touch
Here at Wellspace, we create bespoke health and wellness solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Our innovative employee app and portal allow you to monitor employee wellbeing.
Why not contact us today to see how we can help reduce absenteeism in your workplace.
Alternatively, for tips, advice or other employee-related information visit our news page.
