Staff are the most important ingredient in the recipe for a company’s success. If your business has a high level of staff absences, it is time to figure out the reasons for this and how you can remedy it. Here are 5 ways to prevent staff absenteeism in your company.
Why are Your Employees Absent?
Employees take days off their work for a number of reasons. One of the most common reasons for absenteeism is that the person is suffering from an illness. If this is an infectious illness such as norovirus, several employees will become absent as they contract the virus. Another reason for a person not wanting to come to work is that they are being harassed or bullied by another employee. Stress and burnout is another significant cause of staff absence, followed by low morale and mental health problems. Some workers may not attend work if they have dependents to care for or have suffered a bereavement.
Set Some Ground Rules
Establish fair and clear rules regarding absenteeism and ensure every employee receives a copy of them on their first day of work and signs it. Adhere to these policies and apply them to each and every employee. Do not bend the rules for favorites – be consistent, but take each absenteeism case by case and use sensible judgment. If your rules are fair, your staff will respect you. If not, you may find that staff become angry and unsettled and believe that they are being punished for being sick, and you may find yourself faced with a lawsuit if you do not treat staff fairly.
Offer Support
Adopt an Open-Door policy so that employees feel you are approachable and on their level. If your staff feel comfortable in your presence, they will open up to you and tell you about any problems they are experiencing that might be the reason for their or other employee’s attendance issues. If a worker is off work due to bereavement or mental health problems, show some understanding and compassion throughout their time off and upon their return to work. Doing this will make the employee respect and appreciate you.
Boost Morale
Praise and reward your staff’s good work regularly; otherwise, they will start to feel unappreciated and will begin to question why they bother coming to work at all. Offer staff incentives for good work and dedication such as time-in-lieu, a generous Christmas bonus, or staff fun days and festive parties. Start an Employee of the Month scheme to give your team something to strive for, so ensure you make the reward worthwhile.
Reduce Stress
Stress is the cause of many illnesses, both physical and mental. If your staff are stressed, they will seek the solace of their home and will not want to come to work. Deal with the causes of stress head-on and as quickly as possible. If the workload is unfairly balanced, share tasks out fairly and offer extra help to anyone who is struggling. Have a meeting with your staff at the beginning of every week and ask for feedback on how everyone is doing and if they have any suggestions for how the work process could be improved.
