Thu, 15 Jan 2009
Employment expert stresses importance of
holidays for workers, while also claiming that absence levels should
be carefully monitored by managers.
Holidays can play an important role in maintaining the productivity and efficiency of employees, it has been claimed.
Gill Trevelyan, head of practice services at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), said that having time to "recharge their batteries" is a vital aspect of working life for modern employees.
She also backed recent calls for staff members to receive additional time off for days when they have booked a holiday but then become ill, as this would ensure that the "recuperative benefits" of holidays are retained.
Ms Trevelyan explained: "Holidays are necessary for employees to 'recharge their batteries' and return to work refreshed.
"This benefits the business as rested, healthy employees are more productive."
Commenting on the record number of sick days taken by British workers this week, the Acas representative said that people with management duties must be properly trained to monitor absence levels in the workplace.
"Investigate and take action where you have evidence that sickness absence is not genuine. Ensure line managers are trained to handle these conversations," she added.
Ms Trevelyan said that a large number of absences can often harm a company's productivity by putting increased pressure on those employees who do make it into the office.
According to FirstCare, 12.5 per cent of UK employees have taken time off work this week, with widespread illness, long Christmas holidays and bad weather pushing absences to unprecedented levels.
However, a recent report from HR consultancy Mercer found that the typical British worker takes 5.5 sick days each year, compared with a European average of 7.4.
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The learndirect team