Introduction
Employee absence is a significant cost to 90% of businesses and according to research the average sickness absence costs organisations £659 per employee every year.

Line managers have an important role to play, either directly or indirectly, in the interventions to reduce absence levels.Managers need good communications skills to encourage employees to discuss any problems they may have at an early stage so that employees can be given support or advice before matters escalate.

Typical Objectives:

	Clarifying your organisation’s absence policies and procedures
	Defining your role in the absence management programme
	Exploring the legal and disciplinary aspects of absence including potential disability and discrimination issues
	Developing competency in the use of return-to-work interview skills
	Building confidence to apply counselling skills

Sample Programme
The Absence Management programme will both clarify the legal position/organisation polices and develop practical skills for line managers that yield results.

Outline

	Welcome and introductions
	Understand why workplace absence matters and is difficult to manage
	Learn how to assess absence levels and Identify priority areas and targets for improvement
	Identify the causes of absence in a workforce and recognise personal characteristics of employees, genuine illness and other external and social factors
	Handling ‘problem’ absence - how to initiate formal action and Initiate effective absence counselling
	Understand the implications of the Employment Rights Act, the ACAS Code of Practice and the Disability Discrimination Act
	Review and action planning

Activities to consider:

	Discipline & Grievance
	Influencing Skills
	HR for Non-HR Managers
	Manage & Improve Performance
	Performance Coaching

Satisfaction
Rating
2007

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Return on Investment