Staff Absence Solutions

staff absence solutions

Absenteeism is something that every small to medium sized business has to deal with. There are many different reasons for absenteeism which often leads to increased employee turnover which never looks good for a company and presents a whole list of unwanted issues. Absenteeism can cause companies thousands of pounds because as a result, they may have to pay for temporary cover, occupational sick pay and Statutory Sick Pay. There are also indirect consequences of absenteeism which may also include low morale throughout the workforce, an increase number of mistakes due to reduced staff and much lower productivity. The good news is that there are companies – just like NORi HR – that can provide you with staff absence solutions so that you can keep employees productive and happy whilst increasing bottom line.

The main four different types of staff absence solutions we offer include;-

• Mediation.
• Consider flexible working.
• Providing rewards and benefits.
• Reviewing disciplinary procedures.

Mediation

Mediation is the informal process of sitting down with an employee and resolving absenteeism through effective communication methods and conversation. Mediation is regularly used where relationships may have broken down between employees and employers and can be a great way to settle disputes and compromise which is likely to lead to reduced absenteeism. Although many employers see the red flag when employees are absent, it can pay to show compassion and get to know the reasons behind the absenteeism so that solutions can be found to suit all parties.

NORi HR are able to train managers and directors to best handle mediation as the right approach is essential. Mediation allows both parties to outline and discuss all issues which can also help employees to feel valued again which can go along way to restoring and building workplace relationships. The result of absenteeism mediation is that you can move past the conflict and make plans for the future.

Consider Flexible Working

The pandemic taught us that flexible working is truly possible for all types of companies if the right balance is achieved. More than this though, allowing staff to work from home or at least have the opportunity to work from home for 1-2 days per week has shown to drastically reduce absenteeism in the workplace and has been largely effectively in reducing stress related absences. This is because it helps employees to feel more valued and also to achieve a better work/life balance. Specific arrangements may be discussed as a result of positive communication through meditation.

Provide Rewards & Benefits

When was the last time you took a look at your rewards and benefit schemes and looked at ways of rewarding employees? Although employees should not be rewarded for absenteeism, rewards and benefits can be a great incentive to reduce absenteeism and motivate employees to work harder and become more productive. If you have neglected employee rewards and benefits for a long time and you have seen employee absenteeism drastically increase, there could be a direct correlation. Things to consider here include reviewing compensation, benefits and rewards schemes for new and established employees, creating additional incentive packages and even offering bonus packages for 100% employee attendance over the course of a six month period.

Review & Set Disciplinary Procedures

Have you got set disciplinary procedures in place that are clearly outlined in the employment contract and/or employee handbook? If not, this could be your next step in staff absence solutions. Employees should be clearly aware of the disciplinary procedures set out by the company and the the various stages. For example, the first stage may be a warning, the second stage may be a formal meeting and the third stage may be disciplinary decision to terminate the contract of the employee. The finer details should also be outlined such as calling into work sick by a certain time so that the company can proactively solve this problem and provide cover and/or adjust plans to get the relevant work complete.

What Causes Absenteeism?

There are many reasons for absenteeism with some of the main reasons including family-related issues, poor work morale, illness, workplace harassment and many more. It’s important to arrange mediation to understand the circumstances of your employee’s absenteeism before making a disciplinary decision, to ensure they are treated correctly and have the opportunity to clear explain their reasons.

To find out more about staff absence solutions and how NORi HR can help, contact NORi HR & Employment Law on 01254 947829 or use our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.