FirstAssist is urging businesses to embrace occupational health and rehabilitation services to conquer rising problems of staff absenteeism. The warning from Tim Ablett chief executive of FirstAssist follows the CBIís announcement that 78% of firms admit the link between patterns of absence and the unauthorised extension of the weekend*.
Tim Ablett, comments: ìThe rising levels and cost of staff absence mean companies are paying as much as 475 per employee to cover sick leave. It is clear that companies need to take proactive steps to reduce staff absence. Effective health and wellbeing initiatives such as sickness absence management, employee assistance programmes and access to rehabilitation services, under the umbrella of new 21st century Occupational Health services, are an essential part of managing levels of staff absence. After all, keeping people at work has to be the ultimate goal in increased productivity.
ìWith absence costs rising every year, employers cannot afford to ignore the benefits of a proper healthcare programme. Employers need to equate taking care of their staff with taking care of their business to create a proficient and cost-effective working environment.
ìCompanies need to review their current employee health and wellbeing initiatives and introduce proactive health management programmes that bring to bear a range of specialised skills required to meet the needs of business and ensure the optimum health of all employees. This will help reduce the number of bogus sick days, increase morale and ultimately increase efficiency in the workplace.î
Firstassist urges businesses to conquer absenteeism
with 21st century occupational health services