Absenteeism Is When Employees Dont Come to Work

Absenteeism Is When Employees Dont Come to WorkAbsenteeism Is When Employees Dont Come to WorkAbsenteeism is the state of chronicabsencefrom work. Absenteeism is usually addressed through progressively stricterdisciplinary measuresthat can result in theterminationof the individuals employment. This is generally governed by the organizationsattendance policy. The employee handbook frequently documents expected attendance and the consequences an employee will experience for absenteeism. Unscheduled Absence An unscheduled absence occurs when an employee is elend present at work during a normally scheduled work period. Absences are generally compensated when their frequency and rationale fall within the guidelines established in the organizations attendance policy. These compensated absences may depend upon certain required employee actions such as seeking permission for scheduled absences from work in advance or calling in to report an unscheduled absence within organization timelin es and expectations. Some organizations also require a doctors note when an employee unexpectedly misses work. For medical privacy, all the note needs to say is that the doctor saw the employee. Doctors notes can cause unnecessary expense for an employee who is too sick to come to work but not sick enough to visit a doctor. Too many unscheduled absences can result in the termination of an employeesemployment. This is generally governed by the organizationsattendance policy. Scheduled Absence The scheduled time off from work that occurs when an employee is not present at work during a normally scheduled work period is also an absence. But a scheduled absence is more acceptable than an unscheduled absence for which employers cant prepare. Excused absences are scheduled in advance for such events asvacation, medical appointments, military service, family activities, surgery,jury duty,funeralsand more that employees cannot schedule outside of regular work hours. Absences are general ly compensated when their frequency and rationale fall within the guidelines established in the organizationsattendance policy. These compensated absences may depend upon certain required employee actions such as seeking permission for scheduled absences from work in advance or calling in to report an unscheduled absence within the organizations timelines and expectations. Absenteeism Policy An absenteeism policy provides guidance within an organization about how to manage the state of employees who are chronically absence from work. Absenteeism is usually addressed through progressively stricter disciplinary measures that can result in the termination of the individualsemployment. This is generally governed by the organizationsattendance policy. The Employers Challenge Employee attendance is a challenge for employers especially in industries and work settings where a customer facing person is essential. Absences can shut down assembly lines if employees scheduled to work fa il to show up to man their work station. Patient care is hampered in settings where nursing and other patient services are needed. In retail stores, customers are forced to wait if employees fail to come to work. Since the effects of absenteeism are substantial, employers have long sought ways to encourage employees to come to work. Methods have ranged from no-fault attendance policies to strict point systems that have employment termination as the final disciplinary step. The punitive approach has supporters who are usually in work settings where employee attendance is essential. Other employers support a strict attendance policy but also offer rewards when employees attend such as bonuses and gifts. We prefer a combination approach in a work setting that requires employee attendance. Yes, disciplinary consequences must exist when employees miss a certain amount of work, but recognition and rewards sweeten the deal for employees who show up for work. Disclaimer Susan Heathfield makes every effort to offer accurate, common-sense, ethical Human Resources management, employer, and workplace advice both on this website, and linked to from this website, but she is not an attorney, and the content on the site, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality, and is not to be construed as legal advice. The site has a world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country, so the site cannot be definitive on all of them for your workplace. When in doubt, always seek legal counsel or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct. The information on this site is for guidance, ideas, and assistance only.