Absenteeism: Think Before You Act

Eight tips to reduce absenteeism in the workplace.

1/ Don't treat absenteeism as a whole
Tackle a specific cause or limit yourself to a single population category.

2/ Don't just rely on quick fixes
Useful in cases of obvious abuse, prefer a three-year plan, with concrete actions and monthly monitoring.

3/ Don't stigmatize those absent
Be mindful of sensitivities. Announce a diagnosis as a work quality survey rather than an absenteeism audit.

4/ Don't focus on raw numbers
Think about your expectations, the overall decrease in the absenteeism rate or micro-absenteeism? Gaining productivity or improving well-being at work?

5/ Don't "personalize" absenteeism
Conduct a thorough and in-depth statistical study. Not everyone is a shirker.

6/ Don't leave the subject solely to HR
Create a multidisciplinary steering committee led by managers and healthcare professionals.

7/ Don't develop a generic plan
Start from the negative effects of absence by imagining tailor-made solutions.

8/ Don't launch an unchangeable action plan
Carry out regular monitoring; the battle is never definitively won.

Marie-Madeleine Sève

Posted on May 15, 2009

pourseformer.fr