{"id":17469,"date":"2020-05-19T14:25:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T12:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?p=17469"},"modified":"2025-06-30T16:49:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T14:49:29","slug":"absence-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/absence-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Absence Management: Are You Losing Money?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absence management is a core function of the Human Resources department. If handled correctly, it can help companies reduce absenteeism, boost productivity, and lower associated costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this post, we will discuss the benefits of effectively managing absences in the workplace. We will also look at what policies and best practices will help you effectively monitor employees on sick leave. Finally, and most importantly, we will examine how much money your company could be wasting by not using absence management software.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Why\">Why Do Employees Miss Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Definition\">Absence Management Definition<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#What\">What is an Absence Policy?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Which\">Which Laws Should I Consider?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Bradford\">The Bradford Factor<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Policy\">Why is an Absence Management Policy So Important?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Best\">Best Practices to Reduce Absences<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Train\">How Do You Train HR to Manage Absences?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Cost\">Absence Management: What Does it Cost Your Company?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#Benefits\">Benefits of Using Absence Management Software<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/4960096\/5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29\" class=\"hs-cta-img aligncenter\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/4960096\/5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" width=\"900\" height=\"308\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(4960096, '5b34063f-4e5c-420a-8bc8-af7620e5af29', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"Why\"><\/a><strong>Why Do Employees Miss Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many reasons why people miss work. Whilst it is normal for an employee to occasionally be absent, repeat offenders can have an effect on productivity and morale.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Reasons for missing work can include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minor complaints such as colds and viruses<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recurring medical conditions such as asthma<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acute medical conditions such as cancer\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back pain and repetitive strain injuries<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Injuries in and out of the workplace<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health issues including stress, anxiety, and burnout<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workplace stress from heavy workloads<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responsibilities such as childcare<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workplace harassment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of motivation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical appointments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bereavement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family emergencies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whilst minor issues are the most common reason for missing work, ongoing absences account for a large proportion of missed work. Missing work because of stress and mental health issues is also a major concern. This is why it is important to use return to work strategies to support employees and help them return to their duties as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Definition\"><\/a>Absence Management Definition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leave and absence management involves tracking and measuring absences from the workplace. It generally refers to unplanned absences caused by illness, health issues, and circumstances such as bereavement. It does not cover planned absences such as annual or parental leave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The aim is to monitor, reduce and respond to absenteeism. An effective absence management system should support the needs of employees and provide clear and consistent guidance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of<strong> methods that measure the rate and frequency of absences<\/strong> in your company. Effective absence management involves implementing proactive measures such as the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writing an absence policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analyzing absence data to detect patterns<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requesting doctor\u2019s notes for absences over 5 days<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowing self-certification for absences under 5 days<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conducting return to work interviews<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewing long term and\/or problematic absences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking disciplinary action when needed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verifying illness after a specified period of time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rewarding employees with excellent attendance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These measures can help you understand the effect absences have on your business. The financial cost is the most obvious effect, but absences can also result in disruption, increased workloads for other employees, and decreased productivity. Effective management is vital for a business of all sizes and it is important to get it right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"What\"><\/a>What is an Absence Policy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An absence policy is a clear set of guidelines for managing time off. It informs employees of the attendance procedures they must comply with. It also details how absences are measured, and what disciplinary measures will be taken if standards are not met.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A standard policy details what employees must do if they are unable to work. It confirms who they should inform, and within what time frame. It provides guidance for returning to work after a long period of absence and includes incentives for reducing absences, such as flexible working. Policies must be fair and clear, and be communicated to all employees and managers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The following should be included in your HR absence management policy:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Procedures for notifying managers of an absence<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether the company provides the statutory or enhanced sick pay<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guidance for self-certification and fit notes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When return to work interviews will be conducted<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How the company supports employees (amended duties, altered hours, workplace adaptations, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tools for measuring absences (such as the Bradford factor)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incentives to encourage attendance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disciplinary actions will be taken if employees do not comply.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Which\"><\/a>Which Laws Should I Consider?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are various legal considerations that you must take into account when writing your policy. <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-compliance-laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Compliance laws<\/a> will help you avoid any potential employee disputes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Relevant <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/legal-issues-hr-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HR laws<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/flsa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fair Labor Standards Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (FLSA)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/fmla\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family and Medical Leave Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (FMLA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/general\/topic\/workcomp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workers&#8217; compensation laws<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ada.gov\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Americans with Disabilities Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ADA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal and state equal employment opportunity laws<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulations relating to wages, hours, and overtime<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State and local paid sick leave laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Bradford\"><\/a>The Bradford Factor<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bradford Factor is used to analyze attendance. The formula takes into account both the frequency and duration of absences. It is considered to be a much fairer way to measure attendance and detect repeat absences. Data can be used to detect internal trends, such as higher rates of sick leave in specific departments. It can also be used as a benchmark to compare attendance levels with other companies in the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measuring lost time with equations such as the Bradford Factor will help you understand any attendance issues in your company. Other measures such as the lost time rate (percentage of possible working time lost to absence) and frequency rate (average number of absence periods per employee) are also helpful.<\/span><br \/>\n<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/4960096\/436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a\" class=\"hs-cta-img aligncenter\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/4960096\/436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" width=\"900\" height=\"308\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(4960096, '436ee982-67e7-49b4-bf2b-4fde27fc621a', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Bradford Formula:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>S\u00b2 x D = B.<\/p>\n<p>S is the total number of separate absences by a person, multiplied by itself.<\/p>\n<p>D is the total number of days an employee has been absent.<\/p>\n<p>B is the Bradford Factor score.<\/p>\n<p>The results can then be compared with a series of internally-created benchmarks, such as:<\/p>\n<p>0 points = no concern<\/p>\n<p>51 points = informal verbal warning<\/p>\n<p>201 points = written warning<\/p>\n<p>401 points = final written warning<\/p>\n<p>601 points = reasonable cause for dismissal.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"Policy\"><\/a><b>Why is an Absence Management Policy So Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clear and concise policy helps employees understand their rights and responsibilities. It also helps you comply with legal obligations. When employees know what is expected of them, it makes it easier to enforce disciplinary action when required.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If absences are not tracked and controlled they can have a number of effects on a company:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated absences can affect productivity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low attendance rates have a financial cost for the company<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When someone is absent, someone else has to pick up the slack. This can leave team members overworked and lead to stress if absences are frequent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overworked employees can also affect morale and motivation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absences can lead to disruption<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can affect the quality of products or services offered to clients.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Best\"><\/a>Best Practices to Reduce Absences\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from designing a comprehensive policy and analyzing data with methods such as the Bradford Factor, there are a number of best practices which you can include in your absence management program:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish clear expectations. Make sure employees are aware of all policies and understand what is expected of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reward good attendance. Encourage employees to reduce unnecessary absences with rewards such as extra holiday days. This will motivate them to maintain a good attendance record.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Support employees that are experiencing issues that might affect their attendance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider implementing a flexible working policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offer training on coping with stress and mental health issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promote healthy lifestyles. Offer employees perks such as free gym membership or yoga classes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement an Employee Assistance Program. This could include counseling services for stress management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage planned vacations so that employees recharge their batteries and avoid burnout.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicate regularly with employees on long-term sick leave. Work with them to plan their return and offer guidance and support. Make adjustments to working conditions where needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Train\"><\/a>How Do You Train HR to Manage Absences?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want your employees to understand attendance standards in your company, your HR department needs to be well-trained and informed. In other words, you need to provide them with the right tools and support so that they can<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> effectively manage absences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This could include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clearly defining roles for employees, managers, HR, and occupational health<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training HR on sensitively handling employee health issues. Teach them how to be discrete and use their own judgment\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing guidance on supporting employees returning to work<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clarifying when HR will carry out disciplinary measures<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing which tools HR will use to measure absences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing an absence tracking system and providing regular training.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Cost\"><\/a>Absence Management: What Does it Cost Your Company?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If an employee is absent, somebody else needs to pick up the slack. These extra duties can leave an employee feeling stressed and overworked. This is where an absence management software comes into play. Absences have an obvious effect on morale, productivity and quality. An overworked employee, after all, is far more likely to make mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from the impact on employee morale and workload, absences cost your company hard cash. Employers often overlook this as, all too often, they consider absences to be a necessary payroll expense. However, the financial impact doesn\u2019t stop there as there is a direct and indirect impact on cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of absenteeism in US companies runs into the billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, wages, and poor quality goods and services.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US Department of Labor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (DOL) estimates that close to 3 percent of a company&#8217;s workforce is absent on any given day.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a study in SHRM<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, employee paid time off accounted for 15.4% of payroll costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The total cost includes wages for the absent employee, the cost of replacement workers, overtime, and administrative costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdcfoundation.org\/pr\/2015\/worker-illness-and-injury-costs-us-employers-225-billion-annually#:~:text=The%20Centers%20for%20Disease%20Control,depression%20all%20affect%20employers'%20revenue.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC), lost productivity due to absenteeism costs employers $1,685 per employee each year.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Benefits\"><\/a>Benefits of Using Absence Management Software\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/intermittent-leave\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing intermittent leave<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be complicated. You need reliable data and you need to track it regularly. The right <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HR tools<\/a>\u00a0can help you take the next step. In short, if you are still using Excel, you could be wasting a lot of time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/holidays-leaves-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leave of Absence management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simplify your processes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decrease absences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minimize errors\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track absences on a calendar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify repeat offenders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognize the various types of absence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Support return to work interviews<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide HR staff with easy access to data<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce the cost of managing absences\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give employees access to their sick days and leave entitlements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify absence trends<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help you calculate and reduce the true cost of absences in your company.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/document-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manage employee absences with Factorial&#8217;s holiday leaves software.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><i>Written by <\/i>Cat Symonds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Absence management is a core function of the Human Resources department. If handled correctly, it can help companies reduce absenteeism, boost productivity, and lower associated costs. In this post, we will discuss the benefits of effectively managing absences in the workplace. We will also look at what policies and best practices will help you effectively<a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/absence-management\/\" class=\"read-more\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":17471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-hr"],"acf":{"topics":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v21.9.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Absence Management: Are You Losing Money? | Factorial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Absence management policies, best practices and financial implications. 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