Managers critical to cutting long-term absences

When it comes to long-term sick leave and absence, management skills are vital in getting employees back into work according to new guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

 

As reported by People Management magazine, the new guide stresses that management skills are needed to achieve a timely and lasting return for staff who have been absent for four or more continuous weeks. The new guidance is based upon research conducted by psychologists from Goldsmith's College and Loughborough University, who looked at responses from employees, HR departments, occupational health practitioners, line managers and health and safety professionals.

 

Each year, sickness absence costs employers in the UK an estimated £11bn in lost working hours. Long term sickness is believed to account for some 75% of these absence costs and 50% of the total working time lost, despite only accounting for 5% of the total number of absence periods.

 

According to the competency framework detailed in the new Manager Support for Return to Work Following Long Term Sickness Absence, it is important that managers have the right skills to manage their staff upon their return to work. The guidance says that managers must be able to continuously assess how a returning member of staff is coping, as well as be able to liaise with them and reassure them if they encounter difficulties.

 

Speaking in People Management, CIPD senior public policy adviser Ben Willmott said: "Line managers play a crucial role in deciding whether returning to work is part of an individual's recovery and rehabilitation or becomes the catalyst to further breakdown and deterioration."