Managing Absence in Small Businesses
For small businesses, an employee that takes sick leave can prove a huge problem. When it does happen, there are considerable benefits from working in partnership with your staff and their representatives to help those off work sick to return.
Here are a few points for small businesses to keep in mind when managing and monitoring sickness
• Make sure every employee is aware of the sickness procedure and what they must do if they are sick and cannot attend work. E.g – call the manager before 9am each day to advise that they cannot attend work.
• Keep the procedure simple and clear with copies visible throughout the the workplace.
• Keep a record, and monitor ALL sickness absence, this should include – reason for absence, length of absence and if it’s work related or not. If it is work related then the issue should be addressed & resolved - Employers Liability will provide you with cover should this happen.
• Always carry out a return to work interview, even if it is just an informal chat to ensure that employee is fully recovered and if the issue is likely to return-if so measures can be put in place to prevent recurring sickness.
• Always be fair and consistent in your approach to managing sickness-if you treat the employee/employer relationship as a partnership you will find employees will be more likely to come to work than call in sick and less likely to reoccur.
By doing this you will:
• Retain valued staff and avoid unnecessary recruitment and training costs;
• Keep your business productive, and where your sick employee has built up a loyal client base, keep this as a source of income;
• Reduce unnecessary overheads, e.g saving on lost wages and sick pay costs;
• Maintain and improve workplace relations by working in partnership with your employees and their workforce representatives.
Lastly, remember that a happy employee that feels valued in their job are less likely to call in sick – take the time to ensure each member of staff knows the importance of their role in your small business.
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Employers Liability Insurance
6 tips for effective people management
Tips for Effective Communication in Business
