Absence Management | Alight (2024)

FAQs

How do you manage team in absence of management? ›

Absence management encompasses planned and unplanned time off from work due to a variety of reasons, such as an employee's serious health condition, injury, or illness, caring for an ill family member, bonding with a newborn child, or taking time off due to civic responsibilities, to name a few.

Employees may need time off for a variety of reasons, from short-term sickness to longer-term health issues. An effective absence management framework should support employees' health needs while providing clear and consistent guidance to avoid unauthorised absence or inappropriate use of sick pay schemes.

What Is an Example of Absence Management? Examples of this approach to employee absenteeism can include absence management training (for both employees and managers), implementation of flexible work schedules, and requiring documentation concerning prolonged employee absences.

Absence management is the process that seeks to curtail the issue of employee absenteeism by putting in place procedures to understand why it happens and to present solutions that best fit the underlying cause.

Absence management is a strategic program by employers to monitor, control, and reduce unexpected employee leaves, such as sickness, lateness, or emergencies, to ensure uninterrupted workflow and productivity.

Monitors and records employees' sickness absence in a timely manner. Conducts and records return to work discussions following a period of absence due to sickness and ensures that employees provide the appropriate documentation. Leads and directs informal discussions and formal Stage 1 and 2 Absence Review Meetings.

What is the biggest cause of absence from work? ›

Illness: Injuries, illness, and medical appointments are the most commonly reported reasons for missing work—though not always the actual reason. Not surprisingly, each year during the cold and flu season, there is a dramatic spike in absenteeism rates for both full- and part-time employees.

There are a number of ways of measuring absence, such as the frequency rate, the lost time rate, the individual frequency rate and the Bradford factor. To make things easy, you should choose one way of measuring sickness and stick with it.

The main difference between that and attendance management is that employees are supposed to come to work. So, while managing attendance is about maintaining the natural order of things, absence management is concerned with the exceptions. Namely, when an employee hasn't come to work and why.