This document discusses managing employee absence in the workplace. It identifies the key causes of absence such as sickness and family emergencies. Common short-term absences include minor illnesses while long-term absences can involve recurring health problems or disabilities. The document outlines how to define and categorize different types of absences, understand average absence rates across industries, and utilize appropriate policies and procedures to effectively manage absence.

1. Managing Absence
“2.2 million days lost to sickness”
Facilitated by (your name)

2. Objectives
• Identify key causes of absence
• Define the Top 10 reasons for sickness/absence
Understand the cost of absence
• Understand how to utilise the organisation’s
policies effectively
• Identify the difference between conduct related
absence and capability
• Understand what constitutes capability and how
it relates to DDA

3. Objectives
• Define what constitutes a disability under DDA
• How to identify the difference between short
term and long term absence
• Define what constitutes an underlying medical
problem
• Define the Line Manager’s role in absence
management
• Define action plans to reduce sickness/absence

4. Absence statistics
• Average absence levels increased across
all the main sectors
• Public services organisations recorded the
highest average cost of absence
• Minor illness is the number one cause of
short term absence

5. The meaning of absence
• Maternity/paternity
• Family emergencies
• Domestic difficulties
• Sickness – short-term
• Sickness – long-term

6. Typical approaches to absence
Short-term
Scenario 1
Common pattern –
Mondays/Fridays off
Long term
Scenario 2
Recurring problem

7. Absence management tools
• Disciplinary procedures
• Return to work interviews
• Case management
• Working time arrangements

8. The role of management

9. Effective communication
• 1:1 meetings
• Return to work
• Attendance reviews
• Home visits

10. Effective communication

11. Benchmarking absence
Benchmarking externally:
• Transport, distribution & storage:
• Media:
• Central Government:
• Housing associations:
• Manufacturing & production:
4.5%
1.5%
4.9%
4.6%
2.9%

12. The way forward
• Tightening policies
• Return-to-work interviews
• Involving occupational health

13. The way forward – practical measures
• Effective communication
• Prompt action
• Supportive management
• Effective monitoring

14. Case study 1

15. Case study 2

16. Case study 3

17. Case Study 4

18. Learning review
State two things:
• That you have profited from today
• That you will now do to develop your
learning
• That you will take back to the work place
and implement

19. Thank you
Your details