Happy, healthy employees = A healthy bottom line

With the Chartered Management Institute reporting that the average employee takes nearly two weeks a year off work due to illness, Bibby Financial Services is urging business owners and managers to put measures in place to reduce absenteeism and keep their staff and the bottom line healthy.

David Robertson, chief executive of Bibby Financial Services, said: ìBusinesses with policies in place to promote well being in the work place have found a significant improvement in their employees physical and mental health, resulting in reduced absenteeism levels.

ìUltimately, with absenteeism costing employers up to 600 per member of staff a year due to loss in productivity**, businesses that create an environment which keeps staff happy and healthy will reap the benefits by reducing the effect of employee illness and high staff turnover on their bottom line,î

In order to help owners and managers create a positive working environment, Bibby Financial Services has developed the following tips:

Itís good to talk ñ good communication creates a positive environment where people feel able to share their thoughts and concerns with others. Employees gain a sense of involvement in the direction of the business, while spending time with your staff makes you aware of their feelings about different aspects of the business

Trust is key ñ creating a culture of trust empowers employees and gives them the confidence to make decisions. Avoid a blame culture by acknowledging that mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process

Training for all ñ encourage staff at all levels to learn new skills. Provide advice and support and in-house training where possible. Helping employees to learn and develop will keep them motivated and ultimately result in improved morale

Look to the future ñ work with employees to identify their career path and plan their progression within the business. If employees are happy with their career and clear on where they are heading, they will be less likely to look elsewhere

Be a flexible friend ñ look at implementing flexible working practices. Employees with families are less likely to take time off and could potentially stay longer with a company that takes into account family and personal needs

Incentivise employees ñ introducing an incentive scheme provides you with the opportunity to reward employees for their hard work and commitment and motivates them to do well, increasing productivity

Celebrate success ñ make all employees aware of any successes within the company. Praising those responsible gives employees a greater sense of self worth and achievement and makes them feel part of the team

Socialise ñ creating an environment where staff can have a comfortable tea break or a quick catch-up is good for team spirit. Social events should also be encouraged so staff can interact in less formal situations

Lighten up ñ donít be afraid to take a more relaxed approach to work, for example, introduce ëDress-down Fridayísí or pin a ëjoke of the weekí on the staff notice board.

Robertson concluded: ìReducing staff absenteeism levels is a challenge for any organisation. However, for the small business, the impact of even one member of staff being away from the office for a short period of time can be immense. Owners and managers who want to minimise the impact of absenteeism should review their strategy to promote staff well-being. Motivated workers are more productive and higher productivity ultimately means higher profits.î