Understanding the pattern of absence

The importance of pattern spotting

Spotting the patterns

Summer tends to be the peak season for employee absences, making it vital to understand the patterns that emerge during this time.

Many employees book their annual leave during school holidays or around popular summer events, such as festivals or sporting tournaments. It’s also common to see uptake in sick leave, sometimes coinciding suspiciously with denied holiday requests.

Tracking these events can help anticipate potential staffing shortages. For example, an employee who frequently calls in sick on Mondays may be extending their weekend, indicating a pattern of absence that needs to be addressed.

Key insight

According to a recent report published by the CIPD, sickness absence rates were at an all-time high by the end of 2023.

Absence data and reviews

Analysing absence data

Use your HR analytics to review historical absence data. Look for clusters of absences, such as multiple employees from the same department taking time off simultaneously, which can disrupt workflow and productivity.

By identifying these trends early, you can take proactive steps to address potential issues before they impact your operations significantly.

Conducting absence reviews

Implement regular absence reviews to understand the underlying reasons behind frequent absences.

This could involve one-on-one meetings with employees to discuss their attendance records and identify any personal or professional challenges that might be contributing to their absences.

Understanding these reasons can help in creating more supportive policies that address employee needs while maintaining operational efficiency.

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