Call Center Scheduling Featured Article
Ways to Manage Employee Absence
Employee absences are inevitable, for any number of planned and unexpected reasons. When unplanned absences become a trend, productivity takes a hit. That’s when management must step in and address the situation.
A clear absentee strategy must be implemented and all employees must read and understand how it pertains to them and their jobs. If employees are not held accountable for absences, especially without specific rules and regulations implemented, they can become a pattern. But, there are ways to make employees want to come to work: offer breakfast Fridays or a day off for perfect attendance, or give prizes at the end of each month for employees who were consistent. Perks and recognition go a long way.
Sometimes, employees work better visually, so create a board to show how chronic absenteeism affects the business as a whole. Management can also create a sense of camaraderie by dividing call center agents into groups or teams. By bonding and learning to lean on one another, the thought is that absences will go down because team members will think twice about hurting team morale.
One big concern for agents is family, especially children, and what will happen if set childcare falls through or children fall ill. Some call centers are giving out childcare vouchers to assist with this. Showing agents how they can grow with the company and what the future opportunities can provide to them and their families can be a huge incentive. Who doesn’t want to move up the ladder?
Allow open communication so that there is a welcoming feeling, but also monitor agents for a better read on who may be the right fit and who may be toxic to the work environment. By ensuring staff and management have a common understanding of how to work together for a common goal, the rate of absenteeism will go down.
What attendance policies will your center start implementing?
Edited by Erik Linask