The Absence Management Assessment service from WorkMatters provides an in-depth review of an organisation’s approach to managing sickness absence. By thoroughly evaluating existing absence management programmes, the Assessment helps determine where current policies and procedures might be deviating from best practice and where efforts should be concentrated for maximum return, focusing on preventative approaches to sickness absence and early intervention processes.

Many employers have a very limited awareness of good absence management practices;

• fewer still have these policies and practices in place;

• poor practices can lead to unnecessary and prolonged absences.

The Assessment is the starting point. It provides a baseline of how the employer is faring right now.

It provides a focus on what needs attention, and which areas to tackle first.

It also provides guidance on what improvements can be made as well as highlighting any areas of good practice. The Assessment is unique in that it requires consensus between employees and management – this dialogue is an essential starting point before any meaningful change can be implemented.

• The National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) ,in Canada.

The Assessment is used by companies in the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand who want to understand what their Absence Management strengths and weaknesses are.

An Assessment typically takes three days:

• On the first day our assessors will look at the organisation’s existing absence management documentation;

• The second day is spent surveying a number of randomly selected employees – representing both management and non-management – for their views on the organisation’s absence management programme;

• On the third day our assessors meet with a group representing both employees and management to explore a wide range of issues relating to the organisation’s absence management programme.

Our vocational rehabilitation practitioners who are also Certified Absence Management Assessors conduct the assessment.

We provide a complete report, not only giving the organisation an overall rating, but also an analysis of our findings and detailed recommendations for strengthening the absence management programme.

The Absence Management Assessment service provides a comprehensive picture of an organisation’s existing absence management practices to determine where current policies and procedures might be deviating from best practice and where efforts should be concentrated for maximum return.

The graph below is typical of what is included in an Absence Management Assessment report; it provides the organisation with a standardised benchmark against recognised best practice in the area of information and communication management – a key element in the Absence Management Assessment service.

Element 4 – Information and Communication Management

As a good preparatory step, and prior to undergoing a Full Assessment, some workplaces may wish to use a shorter assessment which allows a workplace, over the course of approximately 3-4 hours, to obtain an overview of their current absence management performance.

Whilst the Full Absence Management Assessment looks at information obtained from a number of sources, including written evidence, consensus focus groups and employee surveys, this High Level Assessment applies an interview-style approach.

• Their work schedule may not allow them the flexibility to collect the information required of the Full Assessment

• Some workplaces may simply prefer to obtain a ‘snapshot’ of their current practices to give them some ideas as to how to proceed with their programme

• Some organisations are at the early stages of developing an absence management programme and this is the first step to determine what they might have in place before proceeding.

For further details and the fee structure for the Full or High Level Absence please e-mail, WorkMatters@unum.co.uk or call us on 01306 874 257.