Absence management and sickness within the workforce are costing the UK economy a lot, with circa 148.9 million working days lost because of sickness or injury in 2024 (ONS).
Calculating the cost for your business won’t be this much, but it’s still a devastating cost.
Practical Absence Management strategies for employers
Absence management is not only about recording when employees are off work – it’s about putting practical steps in place to reduce disruption and support your people. Employers who succeed with absence management typically:
- Introduce clear reporting and documentation procedures so absences are logged consistently
- Train managers to carry out return-to-work interviews that help staff reintegrate smoothly
- Use absence data to identify recurring issues or patterns before they escalate
- Provide access to occupational health services, such as physiotherapy or counselling, to address underlying health concerns
- Develop tailored return-to-work programmes that balance employee wellbeing with business needs
By following these proactive steps, absence management becomes an opportunity to strengthen workplace culture and maintain business performance.
Absence Management vs Presenteeism: Why both matter
It’s easy to focus on reducing staff absence rates, but presenteeism – when employees come into work while unwell and underperform – can be just as damaging to productivity. Research shows that presenteeism often costs businesses more than absenteeism because health conditions go unaddressed.
An effective absence management framework should therefore cover both sides: reducing unnecessary absence while creating a culture where employees feel supported to recover properly. Our approach ensures that managers and employees have the right guidance to balance attendance with wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Absence Management
What is absence management?
Absence management refers to the processes and policies businesses use to monitor, reduce, and respond to employee absences in a fair and consistent way.
What should an absence management policy include?
A strong policy sets out how employees should report absence, how managers will record and monitor it, and the support available for staff during illness or recovery.
How does absence management benefit my business?
Effective absence management reduces costs, improves productivity, supports compliance with employment law, and helps employees feel valued.
How can occupational health help with absence management?
Occupational health specialists provide expert advice on employee health, rehabilitation, and workplace adjustments, helping businesses manage both short-term and long-term absences.
Are you making sure your workforce is in good health?
Our main focus at UKIM is to ensure your staff remain at work in a safe, happy and pleasant working environment. Be it through ensuring a rapid return to work to overall general good health and returning to regular work following an absence.
Our team of specialists are committed to exceeding the expectations of employers and delivering support to employees. We do this by maximising your workforce’s work capacity by building strength and resilience, both biologically, psychologically and sociologically.
Our approach to Absence Management is tried and tested
We recognise that each staff absence is different, so we manage every case individually by supporting your employees back to work through our tried and tested multi-disciplinary interventions and access to our specialist rehabilitation services.
We also have a range of Employee Wellbeing Strategies that focus on productivity and return on investment through improving employee wellbeing.
Let us help you to analyse and identify the reasons for staff absence to improve the overall productivity of your workforce and help support your business objectives.
For more information on how our Case Management & Absence Management Strategies can help your business, please call 0191 512 8220, email info@ukim-oh.com or complete the form below.
