Tackle sickness

Sickness absence costs the UK economy over £12 billion a year and can have a huge impact on business performance. To help employers reduce absence, EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation is launching a national campaign in partnership with AXA aimed at educating managers on how to handle the management of absent employees, including those suffering from anxiety, stress and depression. The overall aim of the campaign is to improve work performance and productivity. The campaign includes seminars, and a kit for employers (see below). Speakers at the seminars will include Dr Sayeed Khan, chief medical adviser at EEF, who is an accredited specialist in occupational medicine and a Health and Safety Commissioner; Judith Hogarth, one of EEF’s specialist employment lawyers; and Dudley Lusted, head of healthcare development at AXA and an expert in corporate healthcare. Dr Khan says: “Employers can reduce long-term absence by implementing an active attendance management strategy, rather than a reactive approach. This can have a major impact on the overall commercial success of a company.” And AXA’s Lusted adds: “We are delighted to support the EEF to produce this helpful tool kit and trust that it will provide employers with invaluable guidance on how to manage sickness absence more effectively. The help available from EEF/AXA includes: · A full-day seminar at eight locations across the UK running from March to July. To book simply register online . The cost per delegate is £195 for EEF members or £250 for non-members. · A kit of practical, business-focused tools and templates, for example, model policy documents and letters, developed by HR, employment law and occupational health specialists. Each delegate to the seminar will get a free copy of the toolkit. The toolkit is also available to buy online for a cost of £90. · A complimentary one-hour attendance management surgery for delegates’ companies with a specialist from EEF