5 Benefits of Employee Self-Service for Absence Management

Reducing time off (and the costs associated with it) should be a priority for all companies. To achieve this, HR teams must first collect accurate time off data so they can understand and analyze trends that will help them develop a strategy to reduce unnecessary time off.

Employee self-service HR software allows companies to accurately collect this information. Read on to learn how this software can help improve absence management and reduce absences.

How Employee Self-Service is Used to Reduce Absence and Improve Absence Management

From easy access to absence policies and wellness initiatives to better recordkeeping and visibility, employee self-service is a useful tool for absence management and reducing absenteeism.

1.Employees Can Self-Enter Their Absence Data

The most accurate and efficient way to capture employee data is to have your employees enter it themselves into your absence management software. Our HRIS systems make it easy for employees to indicate how long they will be absent and the reason for their absence. This information is then automatically sent to the manager for approval.

The more accurate the data, the more accurate the results of data analysis will be, helping HR teams develop strategies to reduce absence. Knowing that absences are recorded and viewed by managers in real time can also deter employees from taking time off for improper reasons.

2.Absence records are easily accessible

When absence data and history are easily accessible, it is easy to keep track of the total number of days accrued and identify any patterns in an employee's absence. If an employee is not performing satisfactorily, seeing this on screen and knowing that management and HR have the same insight can be very effective in preventing similar behavior in the future.

Our HR software allows employees, managers and HR teams to get an easy overview of vacation days taken and the reasons for them - all in one place. Annual leave management is also found here, so everyone can see how much leave a person has taken and how many days they have left to take. Employees can see the days off in their department, which helps spread leave throughout the year - no one wants to come to work one day and find they're the only one not on holiday.

HR can use this data to track absence trends across departments. Managers, in turn, can use this feature to get a detailed overview of who on their team is working when, helping them better manage deadlines and workload. Employees can visualise their personal absence trends and view and plan their desired leave.

3.Return to work (RTW) interviews can be easily logged

Return to work (RTW) interviews are often used to deter fake sick leave. Knowing that there will be a conversation with the manager upon returning to work is often enough to avoid unnecessary sick days. In genuine absences, these conversations are an effective way to discuss how the employee is doing and whether they need additional support.

RTW conversations also provide a forum for managers to enquire whether the workplace has had an impact on the employee's health - if so, the reason for this can be addressed to avoid further problems.

Our HR software makes RTW conversations easy. Managers can simply create a new RTW record; they are greeted with a selection of questions to ask their employee when they return to work. The manager can then arrange a call with the employee, go through the list of questions and submit the form. Follow-up conversations can be arranged if necessary if the illness continues or lasts longer.

All of this information will help you build a holistic picture of well-being - you'll understand why employees have been absent, whether they're ready to return to work, and what actions might be useful in the future to prevent further absences. However, this data collection relies on managers accepting and complying with it - you may have to work hard to ensure these paperwork is completed on time every time.

4.Absence policies are clear and visible

It's vital to ensure you have well-written, practical absence policies. You should explain what procedures to follow in the event of absence, from sickness to annual leave to parental leave. Creating attendance and absence policies helps employees understand what standards are expected of them and ensures that managers treat their employees' absences fairly and consistently.

Our HR software makes accessing these types of policies easy. They can be listed publicly in a 'company documents' section so your employees can access them at any time. You also have the option to ask your employees to read these policies and confirm that they understand them - which has the added benefit of improving compliance.

5.HR can list wellness benefits

You can use your self-service portal to list any organisational initiatives you have in place to promote health and well-being. At IceHrm, for example, we use our HR software to list our company benefits, which include both physical and mental well-being initiatives. From gym loans, cycle rides to work and health insurance to National Trust family memberships and employee assistance schemes, the health of our employees is our number one priority.

Promoting physical and mental well-being can help your employees lead a healthier lifestyle - from going to the gym to supporting mental health. This can lead to a reduction in absenteeism - after all, a physically and mentally healthy employee is more motivated to come to work.

Improve absence management with IceHrm HR software

Use employee self-management to improve absence management and minimize employee absence. Our HR software allows employees to record their own absence entries and clearly state expectations. This increases transparency and promotes a responsible approach to absences.

Enhance absence management and reduce absenteeism with IceHrm's self-service HR software. Allow employees to record absences, access policies, and leverage wellness benefits for a healthier, more productive workforce.