Most employers will have experienced the sickness absence cycle within their business. The result of this is higher stress levels for everyone and consequently lower productivity. The good news is the cycle can be broken through an absence management program. Read on to find out how such a program could aid your business.
The sickness absence cycle generally works in one of two ways, or in some cases, you may experience both. A member of your team is absent through sickness or injury, the rest of the team picks up the extra work, causing additional stress and more individuals require time off. The stress continues to build; the original absentee comes back into this more stressful environment and is affected by it, potentially causing them to require further time off.
Alternatively, the original absentee feels compelled to return to work before they are well and aggravates the illness or injury, and requires further time off. Corporate wellness programs break the cycle through early intervention and support for all staff. They assess the needs of each individual within the work environment, as well as the environment itself.
Support is then offered and changes made to the workplace to minimize injury and illness. Prime Care Physio and other healthcare providers can be offered when needed. Concerns over stress and illness are taken seriously and dealt with quickly with a view to avoiding the need for absenteeism in the first place. This can include consulting with someone who has achieved a nursing education online. However, sickness absence management does not stop there, it also ensures that employees are supported when they return to work and that other employees are monitored and supported while carrying any extra workload.
Every employer wants their staff to be present and productive during their working hours. However, things happen in life that stop this from happening, and it may seem at times that there is very little that can be done to change this.
If truth be told every employer would like to boast that their staff holds a zero sickness absence record. The reality is that very few even come close to this, but those that do most likely have embraced a culture of corporate wellness. In doing so they take the health and wellbeing of their staff seriously and put programs and support in place to reduce injuries and minimize the effects of illness where possible. You can join this club easily by subscribing to a sickness absence management program.
These types of programs take a pre-emptive approach to health and wellbeing; taking the pre-employment medical questionnaires seriously and involving both employer and employee in decisions that affect health and work productivity. The end result is the staff that feel valued and who are not afraid to come forward when a health or physical problem arises.
They know that by being part of this type of scheme they have immediate access to medical advice. The benefit for you is that the quick response reduces time away from work by catching symptoms early and offering treatment, physio or counseling sooner. The end result is a less stressed and more productive workforce who work together as a team with you, the employer.
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