As we approach the colder months of autumn and winter, businesses should start preparing for an uplift in sickness-related absences, brought on by a wave of colds, flu and other seasonal illnesses.

For many organisations, managing these absences can be a real challenge, especially when they impact day-to-day operations. But with the right tools in place, such as LeavePlanner, you can streamline this process and ensure your business continues to run smoothly.

Why Absences Spike in Autumn and Winter

Autumn and winter are synonymous with an uptick in sickness, and there are several reasons for this:

• Lower Temperatures: Cold weather can weaken our immune systems, making us more susceptible to infections.

• Close Contact Indoors: As the weather cools down, people spend more time indoors, increasing the likelihood of spreading germs in enclosed spaces.
• Seasonal Flu: Flu season peaks during the winter, leading to a higher number of employees calling in sick.

This combination often results in a significant rise in employee absences, which can create staffing gaps and affect productivity. So how can businesses manage this inevitable rise in sick leave while keeping operations running smoothly?

LeavePlanner Can Help You This Season

LeavePlanner is a powerful tool for managing employee leave and sickness absences. Here’s how it can be particularly useful during the autumn and winter months:

• Real-Time Absence Tracking

LeavePlanner offers real-time tracking of sick leave, ensuring that managers are always aware of who is unavailable. This makes it easier to reassign tasks and ensure continuity of work during absences.

• Scheduling and Resource Allocation

When sickness strikes, LeavePlanner allows managers to assess who else is available to take on additional responsibilities. This means you can redistribute workloads efficiently and minimise disruption to your team’s performance.

• Automated Notifications

With automated reminders and notifications, LeavePlanner ensures that both employees and managers are kept up to date on leave statuses. Managers receive alerts when employees request sick leave or if absences exceed a certain threshold, allowing them to act quickly.

• Leave Planning for Seasonal Peaks

With data from previous years, businesses can use LeavePlanner to predict when sickness absences are likely to peak. Armed with this information, you can plan ahead by encouraging staff to take preventive measures, such as flu vaccinations, and by ensuring there are backup resources available.

• Clear Communication

LeavePlanner helps foster better communication between HR, management and staff. Employees can easily report sickness absences through the platform, saving time and effort.

With autumn and winter just around the corner, sickness absences will undoubtedly rise, but they don’t have to disrupt your business. By using LeavePlanner, you can effectively manage absences, allocate resources and keep your team informed, ensuring that your business continues to run smoothly no matter what the season brings.

LeavePlanner is the ideal solution for businesses looking to stay ahead during the colder months. Plan smarter and manage better this season!

Arrange your free trial today. For easy-to-use absence management software, call Steve on 01252 636 070 or email support@leaveplanner.com.

Pssst! Check out our new all-in-one system, HR Planner, which incorporates an easy-to-use leave management solution, designed specifically with SMEs in mind.