How should managers handle unexpected absences?

We’re at a time of year when many people get sick, so how should managers handle unexpected absences?  Of course, a lot of this depends on the type of work, setting, industry and circumstances, but overall, it’s a good idea to manage your expectations and make sure staff understand their accountabilities.

For instance, some managers tend to work through some types of illness, although hopefully they’re not in a situation where others could be infected.  When staff are sick, do you expect them to do the same or do you encourage them to take time off to take care of themselves?  Do staff know what you expect of them?

And do you have a process and/or policy for when employees call out?  Do you and they consistently follow it?  Do they need to speak with you or someone else directly or can they leave a text/voicemail/email?  Is there a time frame they need to contact you by (barring emergencies, of course)?  Do they need a doctor’s note to return to work after an illness?

Being clear on what you need helps make things go smoother in the moment.  When someone is sick or facing a last minute problem, they’re typically not at their best, so knowing prior to that what they need to do helps.   And make sure you stand by the process.  In other words, don’t tell people you want them to stay home and rest when they’re sick, but then question how sick they really are or why they didn’t get something done, regardless.

Both you and your employee should have a methodology to determine any urgent deadlines/expectations with a plan to take care of them.  That shows responsibility and accountability on the part of the employee and allows you as a manager to handle the business needs.  It can also reduce the odds of someone calling an employee with a high fever and fuzzy head to make a bad decision in the moment.

But if you don’t hold the employee to communicating the business needs and/or typically just wait to see if something falls through the cracks so you can later berate them, that’s not working for anyone.

Of course, if someone has a pattern of being ill or having emergencies at inopportune times, such as always on a Monday/Friday or when a major project is due, that’s worth a conversation.  Or, if they’ve exhausted any type of paid time off, it may be worth exploring if they need to go on a leave of absence if that’s available at your company.

Regardless, make sure you and your staff know the expectations for illness/unexpected absences.  It’s good to know the details before unexpected issues strike.

#positivity #hrsolutions #management #illness #absenteeism #emergencies

Patient getting blood pressure taken.