Managing Absenteeism in Remote Work Settings
By Jenna Earnshaw, Head of Revenue, Wisedocs
It’s become more important for employers to adjust their practices to fit the needs of a remote workforce. Research shows that 25% of all professional jobs were expected to be entirely remote by the end of 2022, and that percentage is expected to increase in 2023,1 which represents the largest shift in working environments since World War II.2
Adapting to a remote workforce and helping team members balance their days are important factors in helping your company succeed.3
While adjusting to that shift, employers must keep in mind that children still get sick, and unexpected illnesses and life events affect employees’ physical and mental health regardless of where they work. That may sound obvious, but data show that many remote employees feel pressure to work when they are sick and may not be taking the time off to fully recover.4
Even if your company’s workflow stays the same, calling in sick might look different when employees aren’t coming into an office. While employees might still be productive when they have the sniffles, consistently working while they’re sick, stressed, or juggling family emergencies leads to absenteeism and burnout.5
Below are strategies to help your company manage absenteeism while giving remote employees the time they need to recover.
Set Clear Expectations
When employees have a clear idea of expectations, know how to accomplish them, and recognize that they have peers or supervisors who support them, they experience less stress about work.6 Less stress equals better health, and clear communication about how and when staff is expected to be at work contributes to a happier workforce.7
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