Benefits October 15, 2004

Absence Control Program Usage on Decline

October 15, 2004 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The number of absence control program is down this year, according to a new survey.
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The average number of programs aimed at decreasing the amount of unscheduled leave has dropped to five for employers surveyed, down from 5.6 last year, according to the CCH survey. The most popular program is disciplinary action, with 91% of employers saying they utilize them. Other popular programs were yearly reviews (79%), verification of illness (76%), paid leave banks (63%), no fault programs (59%), and personal recognition (59%).

Paid leave banks, also known as paid time off, climbed in popularity for the year, with 63% of employers using them, compared to 59% last year.For effectiveness, paid leave banks and discipline ranked highest, getting a ranking of 3.5 out of 5 for both.

This year’s survey also found employers are offering fewer sick days on average, but employers were taking about the same number of days off for sickness. On average, companies granted 6.9 sick days for the year, down from 7.6 in 2003. Employees used on average 5.8 days, compared to 5.6 last year.

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