1. Managing sickness absence effectively Martin Purnell martinpurnell@hotmail.com

3. Agenda The Corporate Framework The Corporate Framework Sickness data Sickness data Cause and Effect Cause and Effect Organisation’s Role Organisation’s Role Manager's Role Manager's Role Employee’s responsibility Employee’s responsibility

4. The Corporate Framework Record it accurately Record it accurately Report it quarterly Report it quarterly Performance manage it! Performance manage it! Manager’s Appraisal Manager’s Appraisal Set Targets Set Targets Performance monitor and report it Performance monitor and report it

5. Sickness levels Organisation Type % time lost DaysSource UnitaryCounty5.2% 11.4 days per employee LGE Shire Districts 4.2% 9.6 days per employee LGE Private sector 3% to 3.7% 6.8 to 8.4 days per employee CBI & CIPD

6. Or as a member of the public put it….. You had 120,000 days lost last year through sickness…. That’s the equivalent to…… You had 120,000 days lost last year through sickness…. That’s the equivalent to…… One employee being off work for nearly 600 years!! One employee being off work for nearly 600 years!! What are you doing about it??? What are you doing about it???

7. Cause and Effect? Stress remains top Stress remains top Poor/good leaders? Poor/good leaders? Good/poor management Good/poor management Bullying? Bullying? HR policies and procedures support the business?? HR policies and procedures support the business?? etc etc

8. Organisation’s Role…

9. Record it! Collect and report accurate data (actual days lost) Collect and report accurate data (actual days lost) Set performance targets and measures to reduce it Set performance targets and measures to reduce it Include in the manager’s appraisal Include in the manager’s appraisal Quarterly performance monitoring Quarterly performance monitoring Compare with others Compare with others

10. Prevention Attendance Management Communication of sickness policy Communication of sickness policy Health promotion Health promotion Important in having policy that works Important in having policy that works Difficult to prove,; complements short and long term policy Difficult to prove,; complements short and long term policy Gets a health message out Gets a health message out

11. Cont’d Occupational health service Occupational health service Disability case management Disability case management Flexible working Flexible working Assessed as leading means to < absence Assessed as leading means to < absence Good for long term sick Good for long term sick Shown to get LT sick back to work quicker Shown to get LT sick back to work quicker Supports need Supports need Better life balance Better life balance

12. Manager’s Role…

13. Manager’s job to… Measure absence Measure absence Embed the policy and procedure Embed the policy and procedure Watch and act on trigger points Watch and act on trigger points Monitor and respond to constant sickness Monitor and respond to constant sickness Role clarity in handling absence Role clarity in handling absence Do the return to work interview Do the return to work interview Managers need to be skilled (training/support essential) Managers need to be skilled (training/support essential) Early referral and intervention Early referral and intervention Evidence that role calirty makes all clear Evidence that role calirty makes all clear Keep in touch if long term sick Keep in touch if long term sick

14. Return to work Welcome back, check recovered Welcome back, check recovered Talk about absence, review record Talk about absence, review record Any underlying issues/problems causing it? Any underlying issues/problems causing it? OK to start work? OK to start work? Action employee is taking to prevent it? Action employee is taking to prevent it? Sum up and record Sum up and record Set review date if needed Set review date if needed

15. Patterns….?? Don’t say I suppose you’ll have some excuse or other! I suppose you’ll have some excuse or other! You are always off when important work needs doing! Can’t rely upon you You are always off when important work needs doing! Can’t rely upon you You are no use to us if you can’t work shifts! You are no use to us if you can’t work shifts! Do say I’ve noticed 6 out of 10 Monday’s you have been off I’ve noticed 6 out of 10 Monday’s you have been off Would you like to comment on the pattern? Would you like to comment on the pattern? Any reason why all of your absence have been in the last month? Any reason why all of your absence have been in the last month? Is there any problem n relation to your shift working? Is there any problem n relation to your shift working?

16. Any questions?