Belfast Conference Examines Absence Management

Dealing effectively with employee absenteeism is the topic of a major conference being held in Belfast today.

Absenteeism is a significant cost to 90 per cent of businesses in the UK according to recent research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

On average sickness absence costs employers £598 per employee every year and employee absence costs employers eight working days for every member of staff per year. The CIPD say that this represents 3.5% of working time and absence directly cost the UK economy over £13.2 billion in 2006.

Delegates at the conference organised by Business In The Community will explore the issues of stress and mental health in the modern business environment and how these impact on the absentee rate in businesses.

In particular, some of the main causes of absence will be examined and delegates will be provided with practical information on managing sickness absence effectively, with a specific focus on absence linked to mental health. Discussion will also centre on the implications of legislation on managing absence focused on recent case law.

In an open forum session the conference will have the opportunity to discuss delegates' relevant issues with the expert panel.

All delegates had the opportunity to forward questions in advance, so that the presenters could address the most relevant issues for Northern Ireland businesses.

(SP)