Attendance policy means a set of rules, which are simple and concise stating the instructions clearly. The main objective of an attendance policy is to inform all the employees about disciplinary actions even if your company lacks a formal HR department. While drafting the attendance policy, you should consider regular and common attendance difficulties such as late arrivals, scheduled and unscheduled absenteeism, etc. and lay it strategically.
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Having a fair attendance policy is very important for a company to function smoothly.
Components of an Employee Attendance Policy
Writing an attendance policy is just half the work, the rest half includes the implementation of these policies. While creating an attendance policy, one should include-
- General policies
Every business lays down some General policies for their employees to follow, as should you irrespective of if you have a formal HR department for organization. These general policies refer to topics such as working hours, clock-in and clock-out timings, half days, Paid Time Off (PTO), unpaid leaves, tardiness, etc.
Make sure that these policies are mentioned clearly and in-depth in your attendance policy.
- Disciplinary actions
To prevent employees from slipping off and enforcing the attendance policy, strict disciplinary actions should be implemented. Disciplinary actions may depend upon organization to organization, in case of attendance management common disciplinary actions implemented are
- Verbal and written warnings
- Attendance management plan
- No Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Suspension
Employment laws do not regulate job abandonment, but it’s considered severe workplace misconduct.”, says Forbes.
- (ii). No Call No Show
As the name suggests, when the employee doesn’t show up at work without prior information. There could be many reasons behind this, for example, family, personal emergencies or accidents.
You need to lay the rules regarding the same and strictly impose them. You should also firmly decide its tolerance and exceptions. It is also to necessary to state the situations that are tolerable and what to expect if not followed. The employee can be fined or suspended without severance.
- Tardiness and early departure
Tardiness is simply the act of being late, it may also depend upon the company what it considers ‘tardy’. Most companies provide their employees with a grace period, which may vary from one company to another. These time frames may differ from 10 minutes to 20 minutes or even more depending upon the structure of the organization and what the company may consider “tardy”.
- Accommodate exceptions
Inclusivity is very important when creating the attendance policy. You should come up with proper exceptions, keeping in mind disabilities or special situations that should be addressed. As a solution, you can provide alternatives such as overtime, flexible working hours, telecommuting, etc. Employing these methods may help employees be more regular and comfortable in maintaining their work-life balance. Hence boosting attendance in the workplace.
- Arrange flexible working arrangements
Offering alternate and flexible working arrangements can prove to be of great significance as it lays off a burden on employees and keeps them more invested and concentrated on their work. Flexible arrangements such as telecommuting, work from home, overtime, working weekends, quick leave approval etc. help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Benefits of Employee Attendance Policy
Making and maintaining a fair employee attendance policy has its own benefits.
- Improved productivity
Employees are often relieved when they are aware of what to expect when they are late. In the state of emergency, they don’t have to stress about their attendance or reaching the workplace on time. They have the satisfaction of knowing what they are up for need not stress about it.
- Enhanced morale
When the company or the organization clearly states the guidelines, the employees are more likely to have a high morale. This is also because the implementation of these policies ensures fair and equal treatment towards all employees.
- Low absenteeism
When the attendance policy is carefully and strategically laid, attendance management is easy, and it also reduces absenteeism in the workplace as employees also have alternatives such as telecommuting and overtime.
Key Takeaways of the Article
Attendance policy means a set of rules, which are simple and concise stating the instructions clearly. The main objective of an attendance policy is to inform all the employees about disciplinary actions if they don’t comply. Upon creating the attendance policy, one should also make sure that it is properly implemented. An attendance policy should have components such as general policies, disciplinary actions, unexcused absence, tardiness, exceptions, flexible working arrangements, attendance management because a careful and strategically laid attendance policy can reduce a lot of workload and significantly reduce absenteeism in the workplace.