How to Reduce Workplace Absences for your Business in 2022

Staff absences have always been a challenge for businesses. Absences from the workplace cost the UK economy an estimated £77 billion every year. What’s more, since the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, employee absences have increased dramatically.

According to a news report by ITV, the Cabinet Office has told workplaces, “to prepare for the worst-case scenario of up to 25% of staff off work as coronavirus continues to sweep across the country.”

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to reduce workplace absences. In this article, we will be sharing the best strategies for reducing staff absenteeism for your business in 2022.

The Effects of Staff Absences

Staff absences don’t just have an effect on your company, they can also affect your employees. Below we have listed some of the common effects of staff absences.

• Reduced team productivity
• Increased workloads for present staff
• Missed client deadlines
• Low customer satisfaction
• Lost time
• Absent employees can fall behind
• Rushed work  Common Causes of Staff Absences

There are many reasons why staff absences occur. These can range from illnesses to time off for maternity leave or medical treatment. Below we have listed the four most common reasons for work absences.

1. Sickness

It is a fact that everyone gets sick at some point during the year. Whether from catching a common cold or burning out as a result of exhaustion, sickness is one of the most common causes of staff absence.

2. Presenteeism

Another common cause of staff absences comes as a result of presenteeism. This is referred to as the practice of turning up to work continuously, even while sick. Presenteeism can result in burnout which ultimately results in staff absence. Alternatively, presenteeism can cause other staff members to catch an illness that could have been avoided if the sick employee had stayed home.

3. Childcare

Unfortunately, when a child is home sick from school and childcare falls through, employees are required to take the time off. While these absences typically only last for a couple of days and cannot be avoided, they can make it difficult for employees to keep up with their work responsibilities.

4. Mental Health Struggles

Another common cause of staff absences come as a result of mental health struggles. Workplace stress and anxiety affected 822,000 UK employees in 2020 alone. Mental health struggles can have a significant impact on your employees physically and emotionally. What’s more, it can affect an individual’s ability to concentrate and stay productive while at work.

Tips for Reducing Absenteeism in the Workplace

Now that you know the most common causes of workplace absences, let’s take a look at the top strategies for reducing said absences.

Flexible Working

Although your workplace may stick to the traditional 9-5 working schedule, this way of working isn’t suitable for everyone. It can be easy to forget that your employees have lives and responsibilities outside of the workplace. Whether they have to pick their kids up from school or attend a doctor’s appointment, flexible working is one of the best ways you can offer your support.

Flexible working provides your employees with much-needed flexibility throughout their week so they can arrange their personal and professional responsibilities more effectively. This helps reduce the need for time off, allowing schedules to be managed effectively and commitments to be attended without the need for compromise.

Workplace Testing

Since 2020 and the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we have all become hyper-focused on our health and how to test for sickness. One of the best ways to reduce staff absences in a world full of sickness is to introduce workplace testing.

While they aren’t compulsory, workplace tests are a great way to protect the health and safety of your workforce in a world full of uncertainty. As Cerulean Health shares, “if you were to test positive on your lateral flow test you should follow government guidelines around self-isolation and you also have the option to confirm with a PCR test.”

The government has provided workplace testing advice for those keen to have a healthy and present team. By having employees test regularly you can ensure those who are exhibiting symptoms of sickness are aware and able to take time off to avoid spreading sickness among the rest of your team. What’s more, regular testing could help your employees feel happier and safer about coming into work.

Mental Health Support

To avoid workplace absences as a result of mental health-related problems, it is important to provide the right support. According to The Mental Health Foundation, “good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive.”

One of the best ways to offer mental health support is by making reasonable adjustments in the workplace. A few ways you can achieve this include: offering flexible working, allowing for remote working, providing a quiet space in the office, excusing an individual from social functions that may trigger anxiety symptoms, and offering complimentary time off to attend medical appointments. Providing the appropriate mental health support to employees can dramatically reduce staff absences by helping employees feel cared for and supported.

Introduce an Absence Management Process

Occasionally, staff will be absent from the workplace more often when their absences aren’t being regulated. After all, if management doesn’t know how regularly they take time off, they can’t be disciplined for it. Attitudes like this among your staff are a result of poor company organisation and management.

It is essential to introduce an absence management process and make all employees aware of the rules. For example, you may require a doctor’s note after two consecutive days of absence or you may require staff to phone in to the office to report an illness before 9am.

Introducing an absence management process and clearly outlining this to employees is an effective way to manage and reduce staff absences.

Honest and Open Communication

If the management of a company is not approachable, employees will be nervous about asking for time off or discussing the struggles they are going through. Providing multiple communications channels such as text, email, an open-door policy, one-to-one meetings, and phone calls are all great ways to encourage staff to be open and honest.

Honest and open communication within the workplace also has the added benefit of creating a happier work environment. And the happier your employees are at work, the less absent they will be.

Wellness Programmes

As a business owner, staff wellness should be one of your top priorities – particularly as it has a significant impact on staff absences. Wellness programmes are a great way to increase staff morale, create a happier work culture, and reduce staff stress and anxiety. There are many wellness programmes you can offer, including:

• Free gym memberships
• Healthy office snacks
• Team sport days
• Running/biking/walking clubs
• Visiting masseuse
• Weekly group lunches
• Training opportunities

If you are unsure of the best wellness programmes to offer your employees, you could always send out a company-wide email asking for suggestions. We’re confident that you’ll receive plenty of great ideas!

Final Words

So, there you have it; how to reduce workplace absences in 2022. We hope these strategies are an encouragement that there are steps you can take. The most important thing to remember is to put your people first. As a business owner with a people-first approach, it’s pretty hard to go wrong.