Absenteeism - how is it dealt with in your workplace?

Loobz

Hi there.

In my workplace, you can have 4 instances of absenteeism in a 6 month period. Being absent 5 times in a 6 month period results in an "Unofficial Verbal Warning". Another instance of absenteeism in a 6 month results in a meeting with a coach and an "Official Verbal Warning" is issued.

Unofficial and Official warnings are recoreded on your account for a 6 month period.
However, during the meeting with a coach after the 6th instance of absenteeism, they state something like this:

"We have seen a pattern emerging over the past 6 months that, from a companys point of view, has to be dealt with. Going forward from here, we would need to see an improvement in the amount of absences. The next instance will incur further discaplinary action" :rolleyes:

So what they are saying is that you cannot have one more instance of absence for any reason. They also state (completely contradicting themselves) that they are not saying you cannot be sick for any reason. They want to see an "improvement" in the amount of absences.

Each sickness is dealt with by a coach, where you give a reason for being absent. One thing to bear in mind, it doesnt matter if you are sick, someone dies or if you cannot make it to work for some other reason, it is still recorded as an absence. :eek:

What the **** are they trying to do or say?? I think its an unfair system that is in place. Is it the same in your workplace? What way is it dealt with? Does anyone agree or disagree with the above system?

I understand that from a companies point of view it is important to have employees at work for various reasons. It still seems like the biggest contradiction ever, tbh.

tck

Why do people feel the need to ring in sick, I know this is a tricky situation but happy staff don't call in sick/absent.

Is there anything that can be done to improve staff morale etc..

Loobz

tck wrote:

Why do people feel the need to ring in sick, I know this is a tricky situation but happy staff don't call in sick/absent.

Is there anything that can be done to improve staff morale etc..

Genuine sickness and acts of God cannot be helped. Obviously people call in sick to go on 3 day sessions, but what about the genuine cases?

WhiteWashMan

when i worked in IBM, i had the same problem. i was off work for 2 weeks with serious flu. I didnt miss a single other day on a whole year, just those, but when it came to appraisals, i was told that i had missed too much work through absenteeism.

through one serious illness!

anyway, im not sure who absenteeism is handled at my current work, becuase no one ever goes out sick really. and even when someone is ouit, they tend to do their mail from home anyway.
so its a good culture, everyone is happy (well, happy about the work, not neccessarily happy in life etc) and everyone feels good about working for the company.

i think that the day you actually call in a sickie, is the day you should start typing up your CV and looking for another job. if you are unhappy with your job to the point where you take random days off, then theres a problem.

while i agree that each absence, no matter what for, is still recorded as an absence, i also believe that there are thing sthat should not count towards absenteeism.
funerals, certified illnesses etc.

otherwise, i feel that the manager should handle anything else accordingly by trying to get the workers to work any appointements and scheduled absences around work. do a bit of extra work here, take an hour or two for a doctors appointment here. that sort of thing.

but when it comes down to not appearing for work, or for unexplained and continual tardiness, then i would be hard on them.


its a job, not a charity, and other people have to pick up the slack if someone messes about. you dont just take a day off, you make everyone else in your team work harder, and thats unforgivable in my eyes.

Beruthiel

Loobz wrote:

What the **** are they trying to do or say?? I think its an unfair system that is in place. Is it the same in your workplace? What way is it dealt with? Does anyone agree or disagree with the above system?

well you haven't told us why you needed to be out 6 times in 6 months, we cannot say if it's fair or not till you do
being out 6 times seems like a lot tbh

Trojan

My (large American tech company) employer is very good in this regard.

My initial reaction to any corporate bullying of an employee, e.g. WWM's example above, would (privately) be anger, and I'd hope to be assertive about getting the information in writing so that if necessary I could take advantage of Irelands extremely protective employment law.

Loobz

Id rather not go into detail, but the majority were not for flu etc. My best friend died in a car accident one instance, because I didnt call in sick each day I was out (even though my coach knew full well why I was out) the days were recorded as a no show. As if I wasnt bothered turning up for work.

Usually a death is recorded as compationate leave, but my case was recorded as a now show.

I was sick 3 times and the other two times were for genuine personal reasons.

Beruthiel

Loobz wrote:

Usually a death is recorded as compationate leave..

normally yes, but unfortunately that only extends to parents, grandparents and siblings - all other deaths are at your employers discretion

pat kenny

They deal with it at my work by simply not paying us for sick days.Cuts them down a bit.

WhiteWashMan

Loobz wrote:

Id rather not go into detail, but the majority were not for flu etc. My best friend died in a car accident one instance, because I didnt call in sick each day I was out (even though my coach knew full well why I was out) the days were recorded as a no show. As if I wasnt bothered turning up for work.

Usually a death is recorded as compationate leave, but my case was recorded as a now show.

I was sick 3 times and the other two times were for genuine personal reasons.

why not just use annual leave for those days?

Altheus

There is a big difference between compassionate leave and sick leave. I would also ask the OP was any attempt to make up the time made, or whether he was docked any pay for the dates?

If it is a case that your boss is merely trying to make it seem like it was anything else, report it in writing to someone within your company with some authority, or failing that to the appropriate authorities outside of the workplace. It sounds very unfair, if true, you have been treated in this manner, but do realise that it is a common excuse that member of family or friend recently died and that you need the time off. Unfortunately it seems your boss has little faith in your reasons, and just sees them as excuses.

If illness/compassionate leave are not levied by a mark of absent, then would a fairer system be a system of no payment?