Although tardy workers and employees taking a day off or two might not seem like a big deal initially when these stop becoming every ‘now and then’ scenarios and turns into a pattern of behavior — it may translate into losses for you as an employer.
Productivity losses linked to employees frequently calling off from work or being late have cost American employers over $200 billion per year or $1,600 per employee.
If you’re starting to see signs that your employee absenteeism (workers are calling for more days off) or tardiness, here are six ways you can handle them with ease.
Accommodate Employees
There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach regarding handling employee absences and tardiness. Remember that each worker’s situation is unique and has different solutions. For instance, if your worker lives far away, consider helping them move to a house closer to the office through the best mortgage loan rates or programs or give them some time off when an employee experiences a death in the family. Showing your staff compassion is an efficient way of keeping them loyal and deterring them from being tardy or absent.
Establish an Employee Attendance Policy
Having an official attendance indicates your expectations for work behavior and disciplinary actions to unruly employees clear to all staff members. Consider addressing attendance issues such as scheduled or unscheduled absences and tardiness, and determine any necessary consequences for breaking each one. It doesn’t need to be complicated. So, focus on creating a policy that describes what types of absence means and its consequences when broken.
Emphasize the Policy’s Importance
After making a new attendance policy, make sure to let your employees know it, including new hires. You can emphasize the importance of punctuality and attendance as a shared responsibility among all organization members by signing waivers confirming they’ve read the policy and consent to its requirements.
Keep Lines of Communication Open
A great way to keep track of everyone’s punctuality and attendance is by making sure your employees know they can consult with you any time they have a problem. If a staff member needs to take a few days off from work to attend to personal matters, ensure they’re comfortable talking to you. Keeping lines of communications open reduces absences and ensures seamless business operations.
Let Staff Know You’re Aware of What’s Going On
A common and fatal mistake that many business owners make is detaching themselves from daily operations. That’s because as soon as bad employees see you’re not coming around to work as often, they’ll likely begin to become absent and tardy more. Letting these individuals know you’re aware of their tardiness and absences can be an efficient way to deter them from doing these actions.
Positive Reinforcement
Although keeping track of employees with unscheduled absences and tardiness, don’t forget to keep track of those who don’t have problems. Rewarding employees for good behavior doesn’t need to be costly and simple incentives such as an extra day off or having a flexible schedule for a certain period can go a long way. Doing these helps employees feel appreciated, stay in your employ, improve your workforce, and encourage problematic workers to follow in their peers’ footsteps.
There’s no overnight or one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to fixing employee absenteeism and tardiness. However, incorporating the tips mentioned to your operations can help set expectations for your workers, improve staff attendance, and overall workforce.
