Managing chronic absence through team building
Team building is a critical step to building the pressure needed to create change. Either employees choose teams or are assigned to teams by the absence management facilitator. Most employees choose their own teams, generally representing the existing social groups within the workplace. Interestingly, employees not chosen by other employees for a team and who are assigned by the absence management facilitator often are employees experiencing chronic absenteeism. Peer pressure from the teams profoundly reinforces the message the company wants to send. Employees may hear messages about corporate standards for absence, but the pressure exerted by teammates to conform greatly increase the likelihood the employees’ behavior will more closely conform to corporate and team standards. Each team is assigned to a contest group. Monthly contests include themes, special perks such as wearing jeans for the following week, and lucrative prizes. Each team with no absences for the month participates in the monthly contest raffle. If an employee is absent, however, the entire team becomes ineligible to participate in the raffle, resulting in a tremendous amount of peer pressure from team members and creating a strong deterrent to future absences. Communicating the immediate negative consequences is an important element of a successful absence management program. Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp. Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
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