As the winter sickness season looms, a noticeable rise in employee burnout is raising concerns.
- British employees’ average sick leave has increased by 34% since 2019.
- Timetastic highlights critical sick leave patterns employers need to address.
- Sporadic, weekend-related, and post-event sick leaves are indicative of underlying issues.
- Employers must utilize data tracking and foster open communication to address these patterns.
In light of the approaching winter season and rising employee burnout, there’s a significant uptick in sick leave rates, with the average number of days taken by British employees increasing by 34% since 2019. It’s critical to identify and address concerning sick leave patterns to maintain a healthy workplace.
Timetastic, collaborating with Dr. Claire Merrifield, a GP and medical director, underscores six concerning sick leave patterns. Sporadic sick leave, for example, might suggest genuine illness or dissatisfaction at work. Dr. Merrifield stresses the importance of acknowledging that while sick leave could reflect dissatisfaction, it is essential to trust the employee’s reason for absence.
A pattern of weekend flu can serve as an indicator of stress, burnout, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. Employees might struggle more to face work at the beginning of the week, or feel exhausted by the end of it. Such patterns should prompt thoughtful consideration by employers to provide necessary support.
Comedown crashes often occur after holidays or paydays, hinting at potential dissatisfaction or unfulfillment at work. Employers are encouraged to engage in compassionate dialogues with their employees to discern any deeper issues at play.
Crunch time cracks, characterized by high sick leave rates during peak periods, suggest that employees may be overburdened or more susceptible to illness due to stress. This points to the need for employers to evaluate workload allocations.
A striking indicator of underlying issues is the total team takedown, where multiple employees take sick leave simultaneously. This can result from infectious diseases or indicate a toxic work culture that necessitates strategic probing by employers.
The final pattern is when previously diligent employees suddenly become prone to taking sick leave, signaling that early discussions in a safe space could unveil and address emerging problems.
Employers are advised to embrace technology for tracking these patterns efficiently. Oliver Higenbottam of Timetastic advises monthly and quarterly reviews to detect trends and correlations with organizational factors such as project deadlines. Such strategies are vital for enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a supportive environment.
Dr. Merrifield emphasizes the importance of trust-based, sensitive conversations with employees when concerning patterns arise, ensuring the integrity of the employee is not questioned. Understanding workplace dissatisfaction or work culture issues is vital for improving both employee well-being and talent retention.
Monitoring and addressing sick leave patterns is essential for fostering a supportive and productive workplace.
