FirstAssist Urges UK Employers to Tackle Absenteeism with a Defined Strategy.

As British businesses strive to tackle the problem of absenteeism, costing the British economy 11bn a year, FirstAssist is applauding York City Council as it becomes the first public body in the UK to introduce a sickness absence management strategy that manages and monitors staff health and wellbeing.

In the battle to reduce its level of staff absenteeism, York City Council is using experienced nurses to handle calls from employees who report in sick. FirstAssist firmly believes an approach that manages the causes of absence and enables an early return to work will see a sharp improvement in staff attendance levels and in turn, a healthier work force and increased productivity.

ìWe have witnessed in recent months innovative measures being introduced by businesses to reduce absenteeism,î comments Tim Ablett, Chief Executive, FirstAssist. ìTake for example Royal Mail who offer incentives such as cars, cash prizes and holidays to staff who are not absent and Kwik-Fit Insurance offering ìduvet daysî for those not in the mood for work. Even the supermarkets have resorted to tactics such as stopping pay in the first few days of sickness. But do any of these actively manage the health and wellbeing of staff to prevent illness and injury and how to do they offer a speedy route to recovery? The old adage ëprevention is better than cureí is key in managing staff absenteeism.

ìAn attitude of ëPositive Healthí by employers will help identify the reasons for sickness absence in the first place, such as stress, so that absence levels can be reduced and costs for temporary personnel and overtime can be limited. Investing in a greater knowledge of the dynamics that influence the health of a businessís employees will enable them to create policies and strategies that will impact in the long-term. An additional benefit will be a reduction in the relatively small number of days lost for non-genuine reasons.

ìBy giving employees access to trained professionals who provide advice and coordinate care through the whole range of health and employee assistance services available, both company paid and public sector, companies can achieve real financial benefits. Understanding the causes and costs of absence are key so that employers gain long-term cost control and increased productivity while significantly improving the health and happiness of their workforce.î

To arrange an interview please contact Madeleine Roles or Justine Russell at HSL on 020 8977 9132 or email maddy@harrisonsadler.com.