Where Did All of the Employees Go? Absenteeism in the Workplace

Employers usually anticipate that their staff will take sick days. In fact, most businesses allocate a number of these days for each of their employees.

Of course, there are many other unexpected reasons that result in their absence. For example, someone may lose a family member or experience a delay at an airport; parents with children may have to stay with them if they are ill or have an accident; alternatively, individuals with elderly parents may have to assist them when they are ill. In many cases, it’s up to the employer to determine whether the cause has enough reason to warrant staying home.

Absenteeism on the Rise

One thing is certain: there are more employees staying home from work than ever before. What’s more, absenteeism continues to rise, despite numerous attempts to curb it. With that being said, not every company has such a poor attendance record. Some businesses are actually seeing a decrease in the number of sick days taken. As a result, their workplaces are far more productive.

So, what exactly are these companies doing that sets them apart? They take action to address employee well being. Instead of attending to employee welfare once staff are overworked, stressed, and unhappy, these businesses instate preventative measures. Not only will doing so reduce employee turnover, but it will attract talented individuals to the company. For one thing, employers that regularly check in with staff have a better understanding of how much stress they feel. Of course, not all employees feel comfortable speaking to their superiors with candour and having an HR department that encourages doing so will facilitate openness. In addition, promoting activities like workplace meditation or even afternoon napping may ease the stress that leads to illness. Some employers also offer free gym memberships or counselling services to help promote a healthy lifestyle.

Workplace Aptitude

It isn’t always easy to prevent stress in the workplace. Depending on the industry, some jobs are much more stressful. Whether that’s because the environment is extremely fast-paced, staff needing a “thick skin,” or because there’s so much change, some individuals may find the work mentally exhausting. As such, pre-employment testing will determine whether someone has an inherent likelihood for success in these types of roles. Hiring the wrong individual, however enthusiastic at the interview, will set them up for failure, and result in a great deal of frustration for both the candidate and the employer. In contrast, a j0b-fit assessment measures whether a specific job highlights someone’s unique strengths rather than emphasizing their weaknesses.