Tackling absenteeism can be a major factor in an organisation's success, a Belfast conference was told this month. Delegates gathered in the city on 6 September to explore ways of dealing with the problem, which costs Northern Ireland businesses millions of pounds per year. Organised by Business in the Community (BITC), it aimed to help firms cope with the stresses their employees face in the modern workplace environment.
BITC's Denise Cranston said that absenteeism costs the UK economy £13 billion each year, which works out at £600 for every employee. "This is an incredible drain and some very simple steps can be taken by employers to reduce this burden." Experts in the area of occupational health provision and employment law addressed the conference, with Dave Wallington, group safety advisor with BT Northern Ireland explaining that absence management was about much more than simply regulating poor attendance.
He went on to say, "It is a key business strategy, and if managed well, it can be a significant factor in an organisation's commercial success. Inefficient management of absence results in avoidable costs. Workplace health promotion can help people avoid mental and physical illness and rehabilitation exercises, where necessary, allow staff to return to work with timetables which are right for both the individual and the business."
