Inevitably employees’ being off sick for a day or two is a fact of life in the workplace, but what happens when it becomes a problem? What are the measures you can take as an employer to stop it becoming unmanageable?
Read our top three tips below on how you can manage absences pro-actively, reasonably and effectively:
Sickness Absence Policy
Don’t take a casual approach to your employees calling in sick, you don’t want to give the impression you are not that bothered. Have a policy in place that sets out expected standards of attendance and reporting requirements. Include information on sick pay, evidence of incapacity and the sickness absence process.
When an employee is off sick
Stay connected with the employee, the amount of contact will often depend on the employee’s job and size and culture of the business. Avoid intrusive contact or any other course of contact that could cause distress. Check entitlement to sick pay, subject to qualification, Statutory sick pay (SSP) is the minimum amount of sick pay that all employees are entitled to.
Promote attendance
Why not praise and reward employees that don’t take time off. Obviously, you don’t want people to feel they are doing something wrong if they are genuinely ill, but an incentive like this could encourage a more positive mindset about attendance.
Do you need more guidance on sickness in the workplace? Download your free sickness and absence guide now or just get in touch! Drop us an email at hello@hrrevolution.co.uk
