Absences within any workforce are something of an inevitability for many companies. Even the hardest working individuals are going to find themselves needing time off outside of their designated vacation time.

Whether it be personal reasons or sickness, companies will always need a flexible approach to the attendance of staff members.

However there can also be times when workers seemingly take advantage of an employer’s relaxed approach.

Many workers may not see the act of missing a shift as being a particularly pressing cause for concern. However, for companies themselves the situation can sometimes be difficult to resolve.

For instance, companies will often need to find cover, which in some cases could involve drafting in another member of staff that may not have been scheduled previously.

In some cases, firms will need to hire temporary staff, which equates to paying higher rates, as well as additional training.

According to a survey by Direct Health Solutions, Canadian employees took 9.1 days, up from 8 days in the previous year, while US employees used 4.9 days.

This means the direct costs of absenteeism in Canada last year cost companies 65 billion dollars in lost productivity.

The indirect costs involve the employees themselves. The study showed that on average 29.5 percent of co-workers were less productive when covering for these unplanned absences. 61 % of respondents said it increased their stress and decreased workplace morale. 2 in 5 also mentioned it decreased their quality of work.

Keeping a track of absences is therefore one of the best ways in which companies can safeguard their productivity.

Mitrefinch’s Time and Attendance system makes it easy for managers to track attendance patterns and discover problem areas before they get out of control.

It means there is also a chance to discuss the situation with individuals and find out whether there is an underlying reason behind their absences, which in turn can make it easier to find a solution.

In many cases, just knowing there is an automated employee absence management system in place is often enough to stop staff members from taking unnecessary leave.