UK Employment Law\ Employer \ Absence from work
Workplace absence.
Having staff away from work can cost a business dearly. Therefore it is important to realise that spending on occupational health experts, counsellors and health professionals can save you money in the long run by improving output and a reduction in absenteeism.
There are also hidden benefits, including better morale and a more motivated workforce.
What constitutes absence?
- Sickness absence which has been signed off by a doctor as well as uncertified cases where a worker is ill with something like a cold;
- Illnesses lasting anything from weeks to months;
- unauthorised time off work and continual late attendance.
How much can absence cost?
- Statutory occupational sick pay;
- Paying for temporary staff to cover for absentee staff;
- Paying overtime.
Are there any costs which are not so apparent?
- Paying for sickness administration;
- Having someone away can increase pressure on other members of staff who may have to complete unfinished work. This can also mean the colleagues suffer from higher stress levels and lower morale. In the end, this can mean the business’s output drops.
How to measure absence.
Keeping a log of who is ill and how long they are ill for can help you identify the scale of the problem. You may be able to identify trends and even causes where one type of absence is dominant.
The calculation used to work out average absence is normally based on a percentage of hours lost over the period of a week or month: total absence x 100 = percentage loss.
Why are members of staff absent?
There can be underlying reasons for staff members not turning up for work. Often, it can be put down to sickness, but there could be other factors if the problem persists. For example:
- Problems with line managers, management style, or a fellow employee;
- The employee’s performance might be under scrutiny and questions might be raised as to whether it is up to standard;
- Employees might be uncomfortable with work content;
- Employees might believe the work to be too stressful;
- There could also be a lack of motivation.
- The business’s internal culture could affect attendance. This could be because the employee does not feel his/her efforts are recognised or that they are not treated fairly;
- There could be a problem with planning workloads leading to inefficiency and confusing instructions;
- Some employees may feel that the management tolerate a certain amount of absenteeism;
- The office conditions might lead to illness. Check to make sure the workspace is not too hot, cold, noisy or that the equipment provided for tasks is up to specification. If it is not, it could hinder staff from completing their workload to the expected standard and on time.
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