Almost half of HR professionals admit that managing employee absence poses a problem for their companies, yet, despite this, only a small number consider it to be their main concern.
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A study by Imperial College Business School has found that 49% of managers and directors regard absence as a challenge, particularly when it comes to the direct and indirect cost to their business. Yet just 15% ranked absence management as their top priority, putting issues around profit and securing return on investment higher on their priority list, along with the need to push through IT projects and schemes such as flexible benefits.
The study was commissioned by private medical company PMI Health, whose director, Mike Blake, warned that firms should not overlook the benefit of prioritising this area.
