Some time ago, we came across an article that suggested it is sometimes better not to have an absence policy. The subject of criticism was strict attendance policies, which were said to breed discontent. They can also be counter-productive to employee engagement among other things.

This is a guest edition in our Productivity series, exploring how non technical teams can improve productivity by implementing Agile methods. Anyone involved in software development will be familiar with the term “Agile”. Agile methodologies have been advocated for some time in the tech community and many start-ups also subscribe to the lean and agile […]

As with any business strategy, good data is the key to success and absence management is no different. As we like to say around here: “good absence management starts with good data.” How good is your data, really?

Effective absence management is highly dependent on good communication, specifically communication between management and employees. If the employee is honest and punctual in updating the employer on the status of their health or personal situation, the employer can help and manage the situation for a swift return to work and minimal impact on the remaining […]

Now that most of us have a heavier work load than ever, it’s important for us not to allow work to swamp our private lives. Whilst overtime is commonplace when necessary, constant overtime is not. So here are some tips on how to leave work on time.

Honeydew Health has created a “How To” guide for implementing your own workplace wellness scheme in 7 easy steps.

Return to Work (RTW) interviews have proven to be an effective absence management tool. Many companies have already incorporated the practce of conducting RTW Interviews into their absence management policies. However, many managers still struggle to undertake effective interviews – or even to find the time to carry them out at all.

The theory is that setting absence targets improves attendance at work but is there evidence to back this? XpertHR has published figures stating that only 44% of employers in the UK set attendance targets, yet of those, 79% believe that the targets have drastically improved their experience of absence management. So why haven’t more companies […]

Asking for advice is more contentious than might at first seem. There are generally, to draw a very rough divide, two types of people: those who like to work through problems on their own and those whose threshold to seek advice from others is lower. The skill to ask for advice in a work environment […]

Staying in regular contact with absentees can be tricky at best of times but it’s risky to overlook long term absence.