Absenteeism cost UK businesses £659 for every employee each year (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development 2007). Effective absence management can reduce this cost. This workshop encourages participants to apply specific tools to reduce short term absences and understand how to implement rehabilitation measures, so making a return to work after a long term period of absence more likely.

This course is based on the principles developed for our Managing Sickness Absence Toolkit and reflects current best practice in dealing with this sensitive issue.

Programme style

The programme will be practical and interactive, giving all participants the opportunity to put new or existing knowledge and skills into practice.

To achieve this we will use the following approaches:

Presentation - Lecture style inputs to provide underpinning knowledge and theoretical models for discussion

Case Studies - Will be used to stimulate discussion, challenge existing practice.

Syndicate Groups - Will provide the opportunity for individuals to express their thoughts, share their experiences on issues or questions that they have found challenging.

Role Plays - an opportunity to apply and demonstrate skills.

You will learn:

• The costs and risks of failing to deal with absence issues.
• Employees' rights to taking time off work.
• The law relating to dismissal and disciplinary action for absence, including of course the Disability Discrimination Act.
• How to deal with short-term absence, including return to work interviews and informal counselling meetings and formal disciplinary meetings.
• The importance of rehabilitation.
• How to deal with long term absence, including conducting home visits.

This programme is designed for anyone who is responsible for managing absence, for example Line Managers and  HR staff

If you are interested in this programme you may find the following programmes of interest:

Discipline and Grievance
Mediation at Work
Bullying & Harassment

For further information on availability please contact our training team at bristoltrainingenquiries@eef.org.uk or call us on 0117 906 4819