As winter approaches, rising burnout rates are leading to increased sick leaves.
- British employees have reported a 34% rise in sick leaves since 2019.
- Timetastic and Dr. Claire Merrifield highlight critical sick leave patterns.
- Employers need data-driven strategies for efficient absence management.
- Addressing workplace satisfaction is crucial in managing employee health.
The onset of winter has coincided with a noticeable rise in employee burnout, resulting in more frequent sick leaves. Reports indicate that British employees are now taking 34% more sick leave days than they did in 2019. This trend raises concerns for both employees and employers.
In collaboration with Dr. Claire Merrifield, Timetastic identifies concerning sick leave patterns that need attention. These patterns can indicate underlying issues related to employee wellbeing and workplace satisfaction.
Employers are encouraged to adopt a data-driven approach to tracking and managing absences. By doing so, they can enhance not only operational efficiency but also demonstrate a genuine concern for their employees’ wellbeing, fostering a healthier work environment.
Dr. Merrifield points out that sporadic sick leave might stem from either genuine health issues or from dissatisfaction at work. Trust in employees is important, but so is recognising patterns that may indicate a deeper problem.
The occurrence of ‘weekend flu’, where employees struggle to face work at the start of the week or are exhausted by the weekend, often signals stress or burnout, according to Dr. Merrifield.
After holidays or payday, some employees experience absences, dubbed the ‘comedown crash’, which may suggest a lack of fulfilment or happiness in their roles. Dr. Merrifield recommends having compassionate conversations in such cases.
High sick leave rates during crucial work periods, referred to as ‘crunch time cracks’, often suggest employees are overwhelmed by their workload. This condition might either lead to deliberate absence or increase susceptibility to illness due to stress.
A phenomenon termed as ‘total team takedown’ occurs when many employees are absent simultaneously. This can indicate either the spread of an infectious disease or, alternatively, a toxic work culture in need of immediate attention.
Noticing a formerly diligent employee becoming frequently absent should prompt early investigations into potential issues. Addressing these early with open conversations may uncover and resolve underlying problems.
Oliver Higenbottam of Timetastic suggests regular reviews of absence data, ideally every month or quarter, to detect trends, seasonal variations, or links to work-related factors. Investing in suitable technology is recommended to manage this data efficiently.
Dr. Merrifield advises that sensitive conversations with employees displaying concerning patterns should be approached with trust, not suspicion, to understand and address workplace dissatisfaction, toxic culture, or workload issues.
Employers must remain proactive and sensitive in managing sick leave patterns to foster a healthier workplace.
