Absenteeism
Absenteeism, or sickness absence, happens in every organisation. If absences are increasing, however, taking targeted action is key. With the right insights and approach, you can keep absenteeism under control.
What is absenteeism?
Employees will be absent from work on occasion, due to illness or an accident for example. This is referred to as ‘absenteeism’ or ‘sickness absence’, regardless of the duration or specific cause.
Presenteeism, on the other hand, refers to employees who continue working despite an illness, making them less productive. For example, headaches may be making it hard for an employee to concentrate.
Absences happen at every organisation. If they are happening frequently or have a longer duration, that can have a big impact. They affect your operations, your productivity and the work pressure for other employees.
What are the main causes of absenteeism?
There is no single clear cause of absenteeism. Usually, it is due to a combination of factors such as:
- Living conditions at work and capacity, e.g.:
- Physical demands
- Mental load and stress
- High work pressure or lack of support
- Lack of engagement, appreciation or open communication
- An employee’s personal circumstances and capacity
- Organisational policy, e.g. clear guidelines
By looking at these factors in combination, you gain a good picture of what’s going on at your organisation. That makes it clear in which areas you can make a difference.
How can you address absenteeism?
Using a well-thought-out approach helps to prevent and reduce absenteeism.
1. Prevent: a strong attendance policy
A solid attendance policy sets clear expectations regarding attendance at work. Commit to prevention, clear agreements and open dialogue with employees.
That will allow you to create a working environment where employees feel engaged and remain sustainably employable.
2. Insight: the absenteeism radar
To be able to address absenteeism in a targeted way, you need insight into the figures and underlying causes. IDEWE’s absenteeism radar gives you a data-driven analysis of absenteeism at your organisation. We will chart your short-term and long-term absences and propose specific actions and recommendations in response. That way you can make informed choices and implement targeted adjustments.
Request your absenteeism radar
3. Follow up: a reintegration policy
Do you have employees who are still on long-term sick leave due to illness or an accident? Guide them back to work step by step. A strong reintegration policy ensures a sustainable work resumption, specifically adapted to each employee’s capabilities.
