Reduce Absenteeism with Easy, Proven Strategies
Absenteeism is a common problem in workplaces across the globe. It affects the productivity of the employees involved, reduces the overall output of the company, and increases the cost of doing business.
In fact, 36.8 million working days were lost in the UK in 2021-2022.
Absenteeism can occur for a variety of reasons - some personal and some professional.
Fortunately, there are some proven strategies that companies can use that are good for reducing sickness absence and ultimately improving their bottom line. In this blog, we will explore some of these strategies.
1. Create a positive work culture
Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that employees are more likely to show up to work when they feel valued and appreciated. Therefore, creating a positive work culture is crucial in reducing absenteeism.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply say thank you for a job well done. This might be easy if organisations are small, or if they regularly gather together physically in one place, but for many modern companies, this just is not possible. Remote working, hybrid working and irregular shift patterns can all contribute towards a physically disparate team. It’s hard to say thank you publicly when you’re never in the same place.
A Reward and Recognition platform can easily solve this problem. These platforms allow your whole team to connect online, receive news of personal milestones and accept rewards for outstanding contributions towards business goals. They act a bit more like virtual meeting places - a chance for all colleagues to meet and share positive news.
Publicly recognising employees’ achievements using these platforms is a great way to build a team and acknowledge those who are doing a great job.
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2. Offer flexible working arrangements
Offering flexible working arrangements is another strategy that can reduce absenteeism. By allowing employees to work from home, adjust their work schedules, or pick up their children from school when needed, organisations can improve work-life balance and reduce stress levels. This can result in increased job satisfaction and reduced absenteeism.
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3. Provide access to wellness programs
Thirdly, you can provide access to wellness programs. These programs can include things like health screenings and an online GP.
Health screening in the workplace is beneficial when trying to reduce absenteeism long-term. These annual checks help your team understand the state of their health and can lead to informed behaviour change which could prevent future health problems and therefore reduce the number of times they’re off sick.
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In the short term, providing employee benefits that give your employees access to an online GP 24 hours a day, 7 days a week can significantly reduce absenteeism.
It’s no secret that the NHS is struggling to ensure everyone gets quick access to a GP. Often employees have to telephone several times over several days in order to get an appointment. This can mean more time off work, and longer recovery times.
An online GP service can significantly reduce the time that employees are waiting for appointments and treatment. Meaning they can get back to work faster.
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4. Implement a clear attendance policy
It might seem basic, but make sure that you have a clear attendance policy so that everyone understands what is required of them. The policy should clearly outline the expectations for attendance, company procedures for excessive absenteeism, and how to request time off for sickness and holidays. It’s a useful document to have, helping to ensure communication is clear and to give a point of reference when in disagreement with an employee.
5. Address workplace stress
Finally, address workplace stress. It is estimated that those suffering from stress, anxiety or depression take an average of 18.6 days off during 2022. Identifying and addressing the causes of stress can be complex. Some causes will be down to internal company structures or processes. These issues can be tackled to a greater or lesser degree of success.
It’s important to start the process by talking with your staff. Employee questionnaires are a great way to find out about your team’s experiences and areas of stress. Analysing this information will be helpful jumping-off point towards improving internal causes of stress.
But some causes will be factors outside of your control - stress, anxiety and depression can seriously hinder a person’s ability to work productively, and can be the result of health problems or circumstances you cannot change.
In these circumstances, a variety of strategies may be needed - professional counselling, medical intervention or changes to work patterns.
To support your efforts, provide your team access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). These handy apps and online platforms can help staff build mental resilience and give them access to councillors and communities that could help.
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Absenteeism: there are lots of strategies that can help
Absenteeism is a significant problem in many workplaces, but there are proven strategies that businesses can use to reduce it. By creating a positive work culture, offering flexible working arrangements, providing access to wellness programs, implementing a clear attendance policy, and addressing workplace stress, organisations can improve employee well-being and productivity, leading to a more successful and profitable business.
