Many managers attend management training courses in order to try and get the best out of their employees. Evidence suggests that as staff motivation increases, absence levels decrease.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), absenteeism costs UK industry over £11bn pounds a year. The Royal Mail is painfully aware of the problem of attendance. Staff absenteeism was costing them over £300 million pounds a year, with up to 12,000 people being off work at any one time.

They came up with a communications and incentives strategy.  Employees were written to, and explained the challenges and repercussions their employer faced as a result of work absence. They also announce that an incentive scheme would be put in place where staff that had a 100% attendance record over a six month period would be entered into a prize draw.

Not only were they given the opportunity to win shopping vouchers, but a brand new motor car, courtesy of The Royal Mail. The scheme has proved a huge success; over a recorded three year period, staff absence decreased from 7% of its workforce to only 5%, estimating a saving of over £200m.

It’s an interesting strategy, and a great example of a win-win. It may become a philosophy adopted by other employers with a staff absence problem.

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