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In this newsletter
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1. Why manage absence?
2. New Absence Management Software from EssentialSkillz
3. New e-learning course in Absence Management
4. Free absence management tool kit from Acas, CIPD and HSE
5. Free access to Stress Awareness e-learning course
6. Link between Stress and DSE related injury

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1. Why manage absence?
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According to Acas the average worker is absent from work for 8.4 days a year. This figure varies from one workplace to another but it adds up to an annual cost of £598 per employee. The cost to the UK economy is £10-12 billion annually.

However, it is the indirect cost of absence that is the most significant and damaging. Over 80% of absence is due to short-term sickness which is extremely difficult to plan for. Short-term absence impacts on productivity, customer satisfaction levels, cost of replacement staff, ability to meet deadlines, and demoralises the work colleagues who are expected to pick up the slack!

Yet workers who know that absence will be noticed and investigated by management are much less likely to take time off work without proper cause. What gets measured gets managed!

To get your copy of the Acas guide 'Managing attendance and employee turnover' simply complete this form.

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2. New Absence Management Software from EssentialSkillz
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As you can't manage what isn't measured EssentialSkillz have, in conjunction with a leading health insurer, developed new software that enables businesses to accurately measure and report on the rate, cost and cause of absence. The software will track all sickness absences, maintain individual absence histories, and report on critical issues such as number of spells, duration, day of week (Monday/Friday syndrome) and the Bradford Score.

The key attribute of all EssentialSkillz software is its ease of use and the Absence Management module is no different. It operates on the same management system (O-LAS) that powers EssentialSkillz market leading DSE risk assessment system. To accommodate the new Absence Management module and significant new cost saving features in the DSE software EssentialSkillz completely re-engineered and re-built O-LAS taking advantage of the many new web technologies now available to provide a fast, flexible and intuitive software platform for their customers. All existing customers can upgrade free of charge to the new platform.

Customers using both the Absence Management and the DSE software will benefit from having two health related systems in one. This will effectively half the amount of data maintenance and training that would be required with two separate systems.

To learn more about our new Absence Management software please complete this online form or visit Stand F43 at the Safety & Health Expo in the NEC, Birmingham from 13-15 May.

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3. New e-learning course in Absence Management
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Once you have an effective absence measurement process in place you will be well on your way to effectively managing absence. However, managers and other staff responsible for conducting return to work interviews will require training in order to feel comfortable, confident and competent dealing with sometimes sensitive issues.

The e-learning course, Absence Management, provides a practical solution for managing absence based on effective return to work interviewing. Suitable for both private and public sector usage, it helps managers and employees:

Reduce absence in the workplace
Work within their rights and responsibilities when managing an absent employee and when absent themselves
Monitor absence and use this information appropriately
Act fairly and effectively in return to work interviews
Agree solutions for recurring absence

The content has been developed by renowned experts in absence management and validated by senior HR professionals. Research shows that where line managers have training in effective absence management these organisations experience a decrease in sickness absence rates.

To learn more about this new, engaging and media-rich interactive Absence Management e-learning programme please complete this form. 

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4. Free absence management tool kit from CIPD, Acas and HSE
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The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), working with the HSE and Acas, have launched a free tool kit to help managers deal with absence management. Research shows that where line managers have training in effective absence management these organisations experience a decrease in sickness absence rates.

To get your copy of the CIPD/Acas/HSE developed tool kit simply complete this form.

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5. Free access to Stress Awareness e-learning course
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Stress Essentials from EssentialSkillz is designed to dispel the many myths, and some of the media driven hype, surrounding stress and give employees a more balanced and better informed view of the subject.

The course takes a balanced approach to stress and discusses not just the possible work related issues but also the home related issues that can lead to people finding themselves stressed. It offers practical advice on measures employees can take to help them cope better with stressful situations and discusses the importance a good diet and regular exercise has in maintaining a healthy, balanced, lifestyle.

The package can include a confidential online stress assessment that maps to the HSE's Management Standards and provides departmental comparisons of stress levels within an organisation.

As with all EssentialSkillz courses you easily customise Stress Essentials free of charge. This will allow you to include details of the measures your organisation takes to assist employees who feel under undue pressure and to provide links to your own Stress Policy.

To request a free, no obligation, evaluation of Stress Essentials and Workstation Essentials (DSE) training and risk assessment simply complete this form.

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6. Link between Stress and DSE related injury
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Recent research points to a strong correlation between stress and DSE related injury. We would like to offer newsletter readers interested in evaluating our online stress course the opportunity to also evaluate our best selling and award-winning Workstation Essentials (DSE) training and risk assessment solution.

Our DSE solution is used by some of the UK's largest employers and benefits from our continuous review and improvement programme. The newly updated Mobile Device section not only covers how to safely use a laptop but also covers the use of BlackBerry's and other PDAs. Customers can also easily include any company specific information they might have on the use of the mobile devices they supply to their employees. As with all standard customisation on the EssentialSkillz range of courses there is no fee for any initial, or ongoing, customisation that customers require.

To request a free, no obligation, evaluation of Workstation Essentials (DSE) training and risk assessment simply complete this form.

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Thank you
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Thank you for taking the time to read this EssentialSkillz newsletter. If we can assist you in any way please give us a call or drop us an email.

Kind regards,

Tony Dervan
Managing Director
EssentialSkillz

UK: 08700 621162
Intl: +353 91 778822
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