Regular attendance is an essential job function. Most employees must be present at their job site on a regularly scheduled basis to do their jobs. However, there are many reasons employees cannot be at work every day. Employers should have a policy that addresses all the issues of attendance, including lateness, sickness, personal business, family and medical leave, and disability concerns. A key element of an attendance policy is setting objective criteria for when absenteeism requires disciplinary action.
Integrating Absence Management and Health Care Saves Money
There are many reasons for employees to be absent for a few hours or a few days: Doctor?s appointments, asthma attacks, even stress can all mean lost time. That?s not news, of course. However, you might be surprised to learn about an emerging trend. Shelly Wolff, North American practice leader for health and productivity at Watson Wyatt, says that by integrating absence management and healthcare programs, you may be able to save money.
Diabetes' Impact on the Workplace Growing
The annual cost of diabetes - in medical expenditures and lost productivity - climbed from $98 billion in 1997 to $132 billion in 2002, according to a study by the American Diabetes Association.
How to Handle Absences Related to Immigration Rallies
Over the last week, employers across the country were faced with employees who did not come to work because they were participating in demonstrations related to immigration reform that were held in cities across the country. Many of these workers were Hispanic, Asian or members of other protected groups. The question for a lot of employers was how to handle what, in many cases, were unexcused absences. In addition, employers want to know how to plan for future demonstrations that are anticipated in May.
More Pressure to Control Absences
The challenges of a volatile economy are likely to put employers' absence-management and return-to-work programs to the test, according to the consulting firm Watson Wyatt and the Washington Business Group on Health.
