There are an absolutely huge number of reasons that an employee might need time off, even within the remit of sickness absence. Absence management is how an employer uses policies and procedures to reduce the disruption caused by absences, and to reduce absenteeism in the first place. It can take the form of wellbeing initiatives, flexible working options, and return-to-work policies. There will usually be a combination of statutory requirements (that’s policies you’re legally required to offer) and voluntary policies (which you can offer to improve and refine your strategy).
This is important, because without proper absence management you can find yourself in trouble.
For example, say you have run a factory which requires people with certain compliance trainings to be on the floor at all times, and all those people end up unexpectedly absent, then you could have to close up for the day.
Even disregarding the need for the right people in the right place at the right time, absenteeism costs UK employers billions of pounds, with businesses losing an average of 49.7 days per employee due to poor health. By putting a strong absence management policy in place, you can overcome this by spotting the signs of trouble early. You’ll see boosts to productivity and ensure legal compliance.
There are all kinds of triggers for workplace absence, including but not limited to:
- Short term sickness, and the urge to avoid getting colleagues sick
- Long term illnesses
- Poor mental health
- Workplace bullying
- Familial matters
- Commuting issues
According to the CIPD, stress and mental ill health are the biggest causes of absenteeism. Work related stress symptoms are very problematic and can lead to physical symptoms that are just as serious as more obvious illnesses.