How To…Effectively Manage Absence at Work
Managing absence can be challenging for any business, but with smaller teams to pick up the extra workload, SME’s often feel the pinch the most. Whether it's due to sickness, holidays, parental leave or unexpected emergencies, effectively managing employee absence is crucial. If not managed in the right way employee productivity, morale, and overall business performance are all likely to be impacted. One of the biggest barriers to dealing with absence related issues is often the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. We know these conversations aren’t always easy, so in this month’s article we’re taking you through our top tips for handling employee absence.
Understand the why
When an employee is unexpectedly absent from work, it's important to understand ‘why.’ After every unplanned absence, we would recommend holding a return-to-work meeting to find out why they were unable to attend work as expected. Are there any underlying reasons? Is there a pattern of absence forming, or is this a one off? By taking the time to understand the why, you’ll mitigate the likelihood of recurring absence and be in a better position to support your employee as needed. This could be as simple as altering their working hours or arranging for them to work remotely. For more complex cases, you might signpost them to your Employee Assistance Programme, or to organisations such as Citizens Advice for additional support.
Communicate Clear Expectations
Set clear expectations with the use of policies, reporting procedures and open communication, so employees know exactly what they need to do when they want to take time off from work. Having an absence policy, annual leave policy and family leave policies is an effective way of ensuring a fair and consistent approach for all. By creating an environment where employees are encouraged to communicate openly about their needs and circumstances, they are much more likely to tell you about any changes in their personal life or seek support during difficult times, instead of just calling in sick. This will allow you to look at options together and find an effective solution that suits everyone.
Be Flexible
Life can be unpredictable at times, and flexibility can really help to reduce absence in these moments. If you have an employee that is struggling to consistently complete their scheduled hours, consider offering flexible working arrangements. Options such as remote work, flexi-hours, or job sharing can really help employees balance both their personal and professional responsibilities. Not only do businesses see a dramatic decrease in unplanned absences when they arrange for employees to work flexibly, but also an increase in levels of employee engagement.
By consistently implementing the above, you can create a supportive environment where employees feel valued and fulfilled, which in turn will reduce absence levels across the business. If you’d like to discuss anything mentioned in this article in more detail, don’t hesitate to contact us on enquiries@thehrhouseconsultancy.co.uk.