Absenteeism at work: Why it’s not always just sickness…

Absenteeism in work can be hugely problematic for a business. It can cost money, see projects run behind schedule, and damage team morale. However, it’s also important to support the person who is off work.

Businesses have a duty of care to an employee and in this day and age someone’s absenteeism could be for all manner of different reasons.

These different types of absence need to be dealt with in different ways, and it’s important to get to the bottom of it in order to support staff in the right way. 

So, what could be causing someone to be missing days, and how can a business help them?

Mental health problems

It’s believed that around 13% of all sick days in the UK are due to mental health problems, and that figure is rising. The likes of depression, anxiety and addiction are at all time highs at present, and often it can revolve around the workplace.

At Banbury Lodge, one of several alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres in Oxford, the professionals there often note that a patient’s addiction stems from the stresses of work and it’s clear businesses need to do more to support those going through a difficult time.

Some are already doing that. A number of businesses now offer support in going through rehab or seeing a therapist, with support in the workplace moving in the right direction.

Childcare

Similarly, we’re seeing flexibility with childcare becoming much more progressive.

One of the big reasons people are off work is due to their child being ill. Showing an understanding of this will ease stress on parents, and make them more inclined to make up that work when they can.

If it’s easy for a parent to work from home, allowing that flexibility can be hugely helpful, while it may again be a case of a business understanding how they can help make life easier for their employee.

Workplace problems

Unfortunately, bullying, harassment and disputes can happen in the workplace, even in 2023 and that can have a huge impact on absenteeism.

If a person doesn’t feel comfortable or confident enough to come into work, it is going to lead to people taking significant periods of time off work, and most likely result in them leaving the company.

It’s effectively a breakdown in trust between employee and employer, with them not feeling supported.

They feel let down, and it’s important that if an employer believes that to be the case they do everything they can to solve the matter and treat it with the utmost seriousness.

Someone can be off work for a whole host of reasons these days, and it’s important a business does get to the bottom of it in order to support an employee in the right way, otherwise it’s going to increase staff turnover, reduce productivity, and even give a company a bad reputation.

Not to mention leaving the member of staff completely isolated.