More employers are recognising the value of line managers in managing absence at work, but are not giving them the tools and support necessary to do it effectively, according to the 2016 CIPD and Simplyhealth Absence Management Survey.
The survey asked more than 1,000 employers about their most effective approaches for managing absence, and found significant increases since 2015 in the number of employers valuing the involvement of line managers. Nearly three in ten employers now say that line managers taking primary responsibility for absence management is in their top three most effective approaches for managing short-term absence, compared to 17 per cent in 2015.
Similarly, one in five say that it is an effective approach for managing long-term absence. A quarter of employers identified that line managers being given sickness absence information (absence figures, causes and trends) is one of the most effective approaches to manage short-term absence (compared to 18% in 2015). 15% said this was true for managing long-term absence (compared to 7% in 2015).
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However, while employers increasingly recognise the vital role that line managers play in supporting employees, the survey found that most employers are not giving them the tools they need to manage absence effectively. Less than half train managers to handle short-term absence, a drop from 52% in 2015. And just 38% said managers are trained to manage long-term absence (45% in 2015). The survey also found decreases in the provision of tailored support for line managers. Just a fifth of employers provide tailored support to manage short-term absence, a drop from a quarter in 2015. Only a quarter offer tailored support for long-term absence.
Dr Jill Miller, Research Adviser at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, comments:
“Line managers have an essential role in organisations, acting as a link between the senior team and the wider workforce. Their role can cover a vast range of areas, from identifying and resolving workplace issues, to keeping employees engaged and supported. It therefore makes perfect sense that employers increasingly want them to be involved in managing absence levels, but unfortunately this survey shows that the training and support for them to do this effectively just isn’t there.
“Line managers are usually the first port of call on health and well-being issues within their team, and make day-to-day decisions about work allocation and staffing arrangements. They therefore need to have both the competence and confidence to consider the well-being of the individuals they manage, and help shape the work environment to suit their needs. This is a serious responsibility that should be built into their job role, rather than an add-on, so they can invest the time in building their capabilities, and with an emphasis on their own well-being as well as their teams.”
The survey found that more than a third of respondents said their organisation has a well-being strategy or programme in place, either standalone or as part of their wider people strategy. This is compared to 57% who don’t have a formal strategy, but have either individual well-being initiatives in place or act on an ad-hoc basis.
Nearly half of the employers surveyed reported that their organisation has increased its focus on well-being over the last 12 months. When asked the reasons for this, 63% of respondents said they want their organisation to be a great place to work, 47% said their organisation believes employee well-being is linked to business performance, and 43% said their organisation believes it’s the right thing to do. Additionally, nearly two-fifths (37%) of organisations that invest in well-being say they have increased their well-being spend over the last twelve months and almost two-thirds (64%) have improved communications to staff about the well-being benefits on offer and how to access them (2015: 48%).
Miller continues:
“It’s great to see that many employers who are already focusing on well-being are seeing its value, and looking to hone their strategies to suit employee needs. We can also see that the business case for investing in well-being is recognised by a substantial number of employers. With the uncertainty that Brexit has brought to the labour market, employers should be focusing now more than ever on engaging and retaining staff, and well-being and effective absence management are central to this. If employees feel their organisation cares about their well-being, they are more likely to be productive at work, benefitting the long term, sustainable health of the business. Creating a healthy workplace is good for employees and good for business.”
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
- Rebecca Clarke
- Rebecca Clarke
- Rebecca Clarke
- Rebecca Clarke
