Absence rates decline
August 1st 2007 Employee absence rates have declined significantly at Westminster City Council a year on from the introduction of its restructured sickness absence policy. This initiative includes an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) managed by Focus EAP. The combined package was launched for the Council's 4000 employees and their immediate families/ households in April 2006. Figures show that sickness absence rates have fallen from 10.5 days per employee per year to a current level of less than 8 days per year. The EAP has been widely welcomed by staff, who can access the service through the 24h telephone helpline, operated by counsellors and information specialists. Trevor Webster, Westminster City Council's strategic human resources manager (health & safety), explains that the EAP plays an important role in the absence management strategy, which is based on careful monitoring and early intervention. Referrals to the EAP frequently come via the Council's occupational health facility, extending support for the employee to independent professionals outside the workplace whose confidentiality is guaranteed. Webster says "The EAP has helped us build a profile of the needs of the Council and its people and subsequently we are able to target resources to areas of need. "Managers have found the programme helpful because they are not trained counsellors themselves and frequently prefer to be supported with personal issues by those that are professionally qualified to deal with them. The EAP facilitates early resolution of issues, which allows managers more time to concentrate on management areas such as departmental performance." More articles from Focus EAP: | 
