The cross-fertilisation of business acumen and therapeutic principals for the benefit of both staff and employers

Attendance issues are familiar to those of us who have managerial responsibilities or who work with individuals who are struggling in their employment situation, in organizations of all kinds. It is plain that there are no easy or universal solutions to creating and maintaining a workforce which is regularly present and productive.

Alongside best practice in the corporate and financial spheres related to attendance management an individualized approach based on the principles of respecting the creativity and integrity of the individual and seeking to understand and get alongside workers who are having difficulties with performance and attendance issues has an obvious appeal. It is already proving successful.

Difficulties like stress and anxiety, problems with self-confidence and dealing with loss and change, whether they stem from the work situation or from an individual’s personal life will impact an their ability to give of their best at work. If there are systems in place which gives workers an early opportunity to explore the underlying issues and the options for handling them this seems likely to be helpful.

A counselling approach to individuals with such difficulties is well established as helpful in a majority of cases, and a rapid offer of help and an appropriate intervention through a relationship with a skilled professional seems likely to enable difficulties to be explored and ameliorated before the situation becomes more seriously problematic for the individual, their colleagues and the employing organization.