Attendance agreement:Positive changes at Edinburgh MC

[POSTMAN]

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Following the introduction of our attendance agreement last year, sickness absence has reduced at Edinburgh mail centre.

Stevie Gilroy, resourcing manager, says: ‘This relates to better handling of long-term absence cases and a greater focus on how we can support the return to work for the employee.’

Stevie has introduced various rehabilitation programmes for returning employees, ranging from reduced hours and lighter duties to counselling through OH Assist.

Engagement

Sub-area CWU rep Robert Wilson says the new procedure is more about re-engaging with staff, rather than reviews.

‘Some managers are embracing conversations,’ he says. ‘It’s a slow process, but it’s a good agreement and better for both parties.’

Working life is central to the health of postwoman Marzena Kmita, who has a permanent disease covered under the Equality Act that is managed partly through routine.

She believes that managers and postmen and women in Edinburgh are clear about the attendance policy.

She says: ‘I was supported with a rehab programme on my return to work, which was built on lighter duties and flexibility around my circumstances.’

Culture change

Mail centre manager Paul Laidler believes Edinburgh is getting a better attendance performance because they are starting to deploy the procedure fully.

‘Managers support employees through a solid contact strategy, understanding the reasons for absence and coming up with solutions and using informal conversations to prevent future absences.

‘We have a conversation about the absence and putting them on different shifts, change work tasks, and welcome back conversations to facilitate their return.’

[Decky Boy]

The idea that "sick absence" can be "managed" is absolutely ridiculous... feigned illness may be managed, to some extent, by the staged warnings adopted by the company but real illness is neither feigned nor manageable by managers who have no medical training... but appear to feel they know it all ???
Perhaps we need to look at workloads and especially on delivery... asking people to work their day off ? ? ?

[worldclassfail]

Sick absence reduced but at what cost to the employee who feels pressured into returning to work by the solid contact strategy of sending you letters every day asking you to come in for a face to face meeting