How empolyers/managers/team leaders should deal with employee illness

1. Smooth Sailing:
Dealing with Illness in the Workplace
Presenter: Gillian Martin
Captivating Solutions Consultancy

2. At the time of writing this article, the author
was ill and had been for the last 10 days

3. This evoked the thought of the impact that
illness has on productivity

4. Illness can have a very negative impact on
organizations as it often results in a reduction
in productivity

5. Additionally, it is estimated that billions of
dollars are lost by organizations annually due
to employee illness

6. Whereas it is important to ensure that each unit
produces maximum output, illness in the
workplace must be handled sensitively

7. Below are pointers on how to handle this
sensitive issue:
1)React appropriately to the news of the
person’s illness
2) Show empathy
3) Make suggestions
4) Make long-term plans
5) Create a healthy work environment

8. 1) React appropriately to the news of the
person’s illness

9. Unless it is a requirement for the occupation,
the employee is under no obligation to
disclose the nature of his illness

10. It might, however, be necessary to ascertain if
the employee is truly ill

11. For example, a diligent worker’s claim of illness
might not attract as much doubt as a person
who maintains a low attendance record and is
often absent after a long weekend

12. In the case of the latter, there should be a
meeting with the offender to tactfully discuss
the matter

13. 2) Show empathy

14. Assuming a person is genuinely ill, show concern
and lend a listening ear where necessary

15. As Maya Angelou states: “People may not
remember exactly what you said, or what you
did, but they will always remember how you
made them feel.”

16. 3) Make suggestions

17. Encourage the person to maintain a healthy
work-life balance

18. Employees should be encouraged to perform
the requisite tasks while balancing it with
adequate rest, exercise and a healthy diet

19. 4) Make long-term plans

20. Adequate plans should be put in place to deal
with the likelihood of illness

21. Information sharing and cross-training are
effective tools to be used in ensuring smooth
operations in the event that employees
become ill

22. 5) Create a healthy work environment

23. If the work environment is positive, it reduces
the likelihood of illnesses and absenteeism

24. A healthy environment can be created with:
(i) an ‘open door’ policy where employees can
express themselves
(ii) successful management of conflicts
(iii) equal distribution of work
(iv) opportunity for career development
(v) promotion of social and spiritual activities
(vi) access to external counseling
(vii) a general workplace wellness progamme

25. Like a skilled sailor knows how to manoeuvre
rough seas, so must team leaders deal with
incidences of employee illness and other
unforeseen circumstances in a way that
ensures smooth sailing

26. All honour to the Lord Jesus Christ
for giving the author of this
presentation the ability to execute it.

27. Captivating Solutions Consultancy is the
provider of over 200 training programmes to
churches. Some of the programmes offered
include:

28. • Stress Management: “Eagles Soar”
• Leadership Development: “The Anchor”
• Dealing With the Disabled: “A Heart for
Another”
• Organizational Culture: “Your Mark, Your
Message”
• Capacity Building: “Fully Loaded”