Dealing with a Short-Term Sickie Culture

The Problem It is the age-old problem of the employee who is regularly absent with a variety of different ailments. You know the impact that this can have on the workforce if this allowed to get out of hand which, sadly, it can where management fail to deal with it firmly but fairly. The direct approach could be adopted by visiting their house and drenching them with cold water to encourage them to get their back off the bed, as well as cure that night-before hangover, or you could adopt a more reasonable counselling approach. This approach, whilst often derided, can work if it is followed up with a pragmatic approach to dealing with backsliders, through the disciplinary process. The Impact There is nothing more demoralising for the workforce than for them to see someone getting away with ‘bucking the system’, so it is essential that a consistent approach be followed. It is estimated that the average cost per employee is £434 each year. Short term sickness amounts to 80%...