Ask Bart: ‘How can my absenteeism policy continue to pay off?’

Does this sound familiar? You launch an absenteeism policy and see your absenteeism figures fall in the short term, but after a while, that curve shoots up mercilessly again. So was it all too good to be true? Definitely not! It is, however, an important lesson: your absenteeism policy is dynamic and needs constant monitoring to lead to sustainable success.

To do this, you need a structured system that captures, monitors, and reports on your absenteeism policy. This way, it really starts to ‘live’ in your organisation. And this is where absenteeism monitoring software can play an important role.

Absenteeism monitoring software like TeamFlows ensures that your absenteeism policy doesn’t become a one-off project, but rather an integral part of your daily operations. Absenteeism monitoring software helps secure your absenteeism policy in the following ways:

Benefit #1: you automate your processes

With absenteeism monitoring software, the right people follow the right procedures at the right time. Indeed, it is a smart and dynamic system in which one action automatically triggers a subsequent action, and certain responses generate a specific follow-up task. For example, has someone reported that they are ill? Then, after that has been registered, the software sends notifications with the correct action points to the people concerned.

This automation of your absenteeism files reduces the chance of errors or missed steps, saves your HR department a lot of administrative work, and ensures that your absenteeism policy is implemented consistently.

Benefit #2: You get insight into real-time data

Without absenteeism monitoring software, your sick notes are likely to be entered and updated manually, based on data from various HR software systems. Absenteeism monitoring software connects those databases securely and in compliance with the GDPR, centralising the data on a single platform. This allows you to keep track of your absenteeism situation at all times, so that you can quickly identify trends and problems, allowing you to make targeted interventions and adjustments. This solves problems in the short term, and the continuous optimisation of your policy also means you keep getting good results.

Benefit #3: you create engagement and compliance at the same time

Software helps your organisation and managers invest in the well-being of your employees. The platform also makes this visible. Recording all absenteeism procedures, agreements, actions, etc. in an automated system creates a log of your efforts. It allows your employees to see directly what you do for them, making them feel seen, heard, and appreciated. It also allows you to easily demonstrate how you have complied with regulations around reintegration within your organisation, for example.

Benefit #4: You easily follow up on reintegration projects

For a well-run absenteeism policy, you need to do more than just follow up on your sick notes and absences. Successful recovery and smooth reintegration are also essential building blocks. Proper supervision of your employees during their absence speeds up their return to work – with or without adapted work.

Absenteeism monitoring software allows you to manage reintegration processes in a structured way. What agreements were made, what progress was made, how the employee feels, etc. You never lose track of this on the platform.

Benefit #5: you strengthen communication and awareness

Absenteeism monitoring software provides a central platform where employees, managers, and HR professionals can communicate with each other about absenteeism. Everyone has access to the same data (depending on their roles and rights) and receives meticulous notifications of necessary action points and agreements. This way, you avoid misunderstandings and your employees become more aware of absenteeism procedures and their responsibilities – an important factor in effectively securing your absenteeism policy.

An absenteeism policy is an important first step to reduce absenteeism and keep your employees healthy. But sustainable success lies in effective assurance, with a crucial role for absenteeism monitoring software. It automates processes, provides insight into data, eases communication, ensures compliance, and supports reintegration processes. As a result, you don’t just achieve short-lived successes as a company. In the long run, you keep your absenteeism rates low and promote a healthy work culture.