Managing Absence and Attendance Training Course

It's reported that ill health costs the UK economy in excess of £100 billion per year. Paying sick pay, loss of productivity, covering long term sick and recruitment costs all add up.

Most sickness is genuine where the people need to take time off; however, some sickness may not be all of that genuine. It seems easier and easier to get a sick note today, in fact some websites even sell them. Why do people want to take time off work when they aren't genuinely sick? Declined holidays, bullying and lack of motivation are just a few reasons.

Many organisations deal with sickness after it happens using return to work interviews and their sickness policy, but is there another approach?

In this course we look at Managing Attendance rather than absence. This means being proactive when managing sickness. So, you may ask the question how can this be done?

The session is very interactive with lots of discussion, role-play scenarios and an action planning session.

Prior to the session you will receive detailed joining instruction that highlight the learning objectives and what you need to do to prepare. You will also leave the course with an action plan that details how you will transfer the learning back to your organisation.

By the end of the session, attendees will:

• Understand the importance of managing attendance
• Recognise the causes of absence
• Clarify the role of the line manager in managing absence
• Recognise the signs that may indicate intended absence
• Be familiar with the policy and process.

Course Content

• What influence you have over your team and what impact this has
• What are the causes of absence
• What is the line manager's role in managing absence
• How to spot the tell tale signs of impending absence
• Carrying out return to work interviews.

Course Benefits

• Reduce costs by ensuring people are motivated to coming to work
• Get the right process in place to deal with persistent offenders
• Make sure you stay within the law when it comes to managing absence.

Who should Attend

HR Managers, managers and leaders. This course is designed to help people in any role to manage absence in their organisation more effectively.

Session Breakdown

Why Manage Attendance?

• What is Managing Attendance?
• What are the benefits?

Cause and Effect

• What are the typical causes of people calling in sick?
• How to spot the tell tale signs?
• Is it you causing them to be sick?

Adopting Your Leadership Approach

• How can using the incorrect leadership approach cause people to want to call in sick?
• Keeping people motivated

The Absence Process

• Looking at typical absence management process
• Looking at your absence management process

Return to Work Interviews

• Why are they important?
• Getting them right
• Skills Practice