HR’s role in Managing Absence

Why is it important for employers to adopt and implement policies aimed at managing their employees' attendance?

Apart from the potential costs that may be incurred as a result of high levels of absence, an employer that takes no steps to manage attendance is likely to experience:

• excessive disruption to its business;

• demotivated staff;

• an adverse effect on customer service levels;

• customer dissatisfaction; and

• loss of productivity, profitability and business.

Employee absence is a significant cost to the majority of businesses in the UK.

Lack of absence management procedures or a relaxed, informal attitude to absence notification, recording and monitoring can send a message to employees that a certain level of non-attendance is acceptable and even expected.

There is robust evidence that non-attendance thrives on neglect. Clear absence management policies that are consistently and fairly implemented will convey to employees that:

• their employer is concerned about their attendance and wellbeing;

• management genuinely wishes to remove or reduce any work-related factors that might discourage reliable attendance; and

• taking time off work without good reason is not acceptable.

Any measures that employers can put in place to encourage reliable attendance will play an important part in reducing their operating costs and increasing efficiency and productivity.

Good attendance levels will also contribute to the effectiveness of both the employer's HR department and individual line managers as neither will have to spend additional time and resources on managing employees' absence. 

If you need help with an absence management policy and how to address short and long-term absence in your organisation please contact SOS-HR for assistance on 01473 276170 or email us at soshr@sos-hr.co.uk