When a service manager,technician or front-desk employee is absent, it costs you money.
That’s not all it costs.Absenteeism also inconveniences customers and other employees, potentiallyleading to bad word of mouth externally or low morale internally.
Absenteeism will never goaway completely, but tire dealers can minimize it by following a few simplesteps. Start by advising job applicants up front about the importance ofregular attendance. Spell out attendance requirements for new employees,ideally in an employee handbook.
Also, review attendancerequirements at employee meetings once or twice a year, or periodicallycirculate the attendance policy. Include attendance issues in performanceevaluations and discuss acceptable and unacceptable attendance patterns.
Maintain accurate attendancerecords for your employees. If you must fire a worker for absenteeism, accuraterecords will protect you when the inevitable unemployment claim is filed. It’salso a good idea to track absenteeism for individual employees on a calendarthat displays work schedules.
Some commonly used absencecontrols and standards include:
• Counseling after three ormore absences in a six-month period.
• An oral warning after anadditional absence the next month or three absences in the following months.
• If you see no improvement,follow the steps of a progressive disciplinary process: written warning,suspension and discharge.
– Source: Tire ReviewBusiness Toolbox
