Some business owners think that sick days are inevitable, that there is nothing whatsoever they can do to cut absence figures down to size. Whilst it’s true that there isn’t much you can do about colds, stomach bugs and unfortunately, hangovers, there are actually lots of ways that businesses can reduce the number of sick days their staff take.
It all starts with office cleanliness
One of the most crucial things you can do as a business owner, not only to reduce sickness absence figures but also to improve the general health and morale of your employees, is to keep a spotlessly clean office.
You may not realise it, but your current office space could be making your employees ill. For example, your carpets may contain dust mites which act as allergens for people with hay fever or rhinitis. A cluttered office can lead to trips and falls, resulting in injuries as well as potentially expensive compensation claims, whilst a generally unhygienic environment – especially in kitchens, toilets and other shared facilities – can lead to the rapid spread of germs.
Dirty, cluttered offices can lead to stress
What many office managers forget is that disordered, untidy, unhygienic work spaces can also lead other kinds of illness – namely, stress and anxiety. People don’t enjoy working in these environments, as they affect stress levels, mood and morale. You might find that a clean, organised and welcoming office space makes people actually want to come into work, as they enjoy using the space.
What else can you do to reduce sickness absence?
As well as taking all possible steps to keep a clean office, whether it’s bringing in a cleaning company or choosing a high standard of serviced office, there are other things you can do to reduce those sick leave figures. For example, you can:
- Clearly communicate your sickness policy – ensuring that employees know the steps to take if they can’t come into work, and making responsibilities clear to line managers
- Carry out ‘back to work’ meetings – this lets employees know that sickness absence is being monitored and managed
- Take steps to improve motivation and engagement and reduce stress – this requires research into the state of health and morale in your workplace, allowing you to identify possible improvements
- Be more flexible – depending on whether it suits the needs of the business, you can instruct line managers to let employees come in an hour later and make up the time if it helps them to avoid a whole day off
- Offer incentives for low absence figures – bonuses can be very effective at rewarding and encouraging good attendance, but you must be careful not to disadvantage those that genuinely need time off due to a chronic condition, disability or pregnancy-related illness.
Why is it important to take these steps to reduce sickness absence? Well, time is most definitely money, no matter what industry you work within. By finding a solution to reduce sick leave and keep your best employees at their desks when you need them, your business can recoup wasted time and save a significant amount of money. High sickness absence figures aren’t something you should ignore – it’s a problem that needs to be dealt with.
Finding a solution
If you own your office space, the immediate thing to do to make it more hygienic and pleasant to work in is to find a professional cleaning company to look after the space. If you don’t have your own office space, make sure you put cleanliness, comfort and hygiene at the top of your list when looking for new office space. These are essentials when it comes to setting up your office for maximum productivity.
At Carrwood Park, for example, we offer serviced offices in Leeds to businesses looking for professional spaces that have everything they need to immediately start work which means being clean, hygienic and fit for purpose. We’re also starting to use Cube Sensors, which use sophisticated technology to detect how environment can affect health, productivity and comfort.
For more on how serviced offices could be useful for your business – and your sick leave figures – download our ultimate guide to serviced offices and take a look at our brochure. If you need a little more convincing that this kind of office package could work for you, read at our myth-busting blog on serviced offices to clear up some common misconceptions.
