What Absence Management Is

Every team depends on people being at work when they are expected. When someone is away and nobody planned for it, the work does not stop. Colleagues cover, customers wait, or a job is done in a hurry. One absence is normal. Many absences, or one very long absence that nobody manages, can damage a team.

Absence management is the set of rules, records and conversations an organisation uses to keep attendance at a healthy level and to support people who are away. Attendance management is the same work seen from the other side: helping people to be at work, on time, as agreed.

This course is for line managers, team leaders, supervisors and human resources (HR) staff who handle absence day to day. It teaches common good practice. Employment law about sickness, leave and dismissal differs a lot between countries, and between companies. Always follow your own company policy and local law, and ask HR or a legal adviser before any formal step.

Key terms

• Attendance — being at work during the hours and days agreed in the contract or rota.
• Absence — not being at work when expected. It can be planned (booked holiday) or unplanned (sudden illness).
• Authorised absence — absence the employer has agreed to, or that the policy allows, such as approved leave or reported sickness.
• Unauthorised absence — absence with no permission and no acceptable reason, or with no contact at all.
• Spell (or occasion) — one continuous period of absence, from the first day away to the day before the person returns.