If you’re running a business, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen some of your employees going absent. It’s a fairly common occurrence and one that sometimes isn’t worth stressing about. However, once it happens more frequently, it can become a real problem.
Employee absenteeism is the term used to describe when workers are regularly absent from their scheduled shifts. It’s estimated that businesses lose around $3,000 annually for every full-time worker absent. It’s considered the bottom-line killer, and it has been plaguing businesses ever since. Here are eight reasons why it might be happening in your workplace.
The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been the main reason for employee absenteeism over the last year. With so much uncertainty in the air, it’s no wonder that people are feeling anxious and stressed out. In addition, many workers have been taking time off to care for sick family members or deal with their health issues.
A decent number of employees had taken time off work due to stress-related to the pandemic. And a decent chunk has considered quitting their job because of the added stress. Getting infected is also a serious concern for employees. For example, it’s only recently when over 19,000 employees from Amazon got infected by the virus. This led to millions of dollars in loss of revenue.
If you’ve noticed an uptick in absences, it might be due to the pandemic. If that’s the case, there are some things you can do to help your employees feel better. First, try to be understanding and flexible with your leave policy. Secondly, see if there are any benefits you can offer that would help ease the stress of the pandemic, such as mental health support or extra paid time off.
Illness or injury
Of course, one of the most common reasons for absenteeism is illness or injury. When employees are sick or hurt, they’re not going to be able to come to work. This is why it’s essential to have a solid sick leave policy. That way, employees don’t feel like they have to go to work when they’re not feeling well.
Unfortunately, there are some illnesses and injuries that can’t be helped. For example, if an employee gets the flu, there’s not much you can do to prevent it. However, you can always offer free visits to the local dental office when it comes to dental problems. This way, you can reduce the chances of being absent in the future.
Lack of interest in the job
Another common reason for absenteeism is that employees aren’t interested in their job. This is especially true for entry-level positions or jobs considered to be “dead-end.” When employees are bored or unfulfilled at work, they’re more likely to call in sick or not show up.
If you think this might be the case, try to talk to your employees and see what’s going on. See if there’s anything you can do to make their job more interesting. If not, you might want to consider finding a replacement.
Scheduling conflicts
Sometimes, employee absenteeism is due to scheduling conflicts. This is especially true for employees who have young children or elderly parents. If they don’t have anyone to watch them, they might not be able to come to work.
To prevent this from happening, try to be flexible with your employees’ schedules. See if there’s anything you can do to accommodate their needs. For example, you could allow them to work from home a few days a week or come in later/leave earlier.
Childcare issues
If employees don’t have anyone to watch their children, they might not be able to come to work. This is why it’s important to have a solid childcare policy in place.
There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening. First, try to offer on-site child care. This way, employees won’t have to worry about finding someone to watch their kids. Secondly, see if there are any benefits you can offer, such as discounts at local daycares.
Transportation problems
Another common reason for absenteeism is transportation problems. This is especially true for employees who live in rural areas or don’t have a car. If they can’t find a ride to work, they’re not going to be able to come in.
To prevent this from happening, try to offer transportation benefits, such as a company car or van. Alternatively, you could offer a stipend for public transportation.
Workplace stress
If your workplace is stressful, it’s no wonder that employees are missing work. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent this from happening. However, you can try to make your workplace more enjoyable by offering perks and benefits, such as free food or gym membership.
Employee absenteeism is a major problem for companies all over the world. It’s important to have a solid absenteeism policy in place to help prevent it. These seven reasons are some of the most common ones for why employees might be absent from work. By understanding them, you can start to put measures in place to help prevent it.