The cost of sickness absence can be a substantial drain on any organisation. Private sector companies average 7.2 days lost per employee per annum, with the public sector showing more serious rates of absence at 10.3 days. The true cost of sickness absence can often be greater than is immediately apparent. Temporary workers, loss of productivity, strain on the remaining workforce, and in extreme cases, the financial implications of ill health retirements can lead to the total cost being three times an initial estimate.

No software package can claim to solve an organisations absence problems. It should, however, provide accurate decision support information at the correct levels within an organisation. Effectively controlling absence can only be achieved through collaboration of four key areas within an organisation: Human Resources, Occupational Health, Safety and most importantly Line Managers with direct day to day contact with employees. In our experience, most software systems offer excellent recording of absence, but the information produced is often restricted to the HR or Payroll functions.