Employee Absence Policy
 

Can someone please tell me their policy on employees calling out sick, no babysitter, childs sick, ect... Do you do allow certain amount of absences over a month, quater, year?? Can someone please inform me on your policy. Thanks a ton.

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

Doctors excuse for illness..........

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

Since you are the owner, it really is best that YOU determine a policy that fits how YOU want to run your business - and communicate that to your staff.

Some owners might be willing to "understand" an absence here or there. Others are "one and done". Obviously it depends on what sort of back-ups you have available as well. For example - do they call off but get someone else to work their shift? Or do they call off and expect you to do it? Or do they just not show and the store never opens??

Obviously - things happen. People get sick, babysitters cancel, cars break down, etc. And also - sometimes people lie. They don't want to work, so they say they got sick, their babysitter canceled, their car broke down, etc

Also - your state may have unemployment policies that impact how you handle these things. For example - in some states you can fire someone for any reason, or no reason (they are employed "at will"). In other states, it is a "Right to work state" and you need documentation. And either way - they may be eligible for unemployment - which will impact your experience rating and cause your rates to rise in the future.

Additionally - if you fire someone - you have to be prepared for the consequences of that - e.g. getting someone to cover their shifts temporarily and then maybe having to hire and train someone new.

Think through all of that and decide what is best for YOU and how YOU want to run your business. If it is just a simple matter of an employee being unreliable or who you think it lying to you or taking advantage of you - confront them and talk about it. Explain the consequences to you or the rest of the staff if they call off at the last minute. You may wish to discipline them by taking away some of their OTHER shifts. If they aren't interested in reliably working, then you will give their shifts to someone that is.

A "policy" is a good idea, and letting employees know your expectations from day one. But more importantly, if you are seeing "slipping" or bad habits start - stop and talk about them immediately and see if you can have an "adult to adult" discussion about what is happening and how to avoid it.

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

Thank you Sunsally this does help.

Its only one employee. She is a great girl but is becoming very unreliable. Being that it is in slow season I work alot of shifts but are still able to give them some. (As they know this during slow season). She has been with me for about 3 years but here over the last 3 months it is getting ridiculous. Between her and her children being sick I think they all need to be in a bubble. Sometimes she is able to get her shift covered but I have been forced to come in and work her shifts alot lately. I have made changed in my employee handbook and I am fixing to have a store meeting to go over all the changes.

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

After 3 years, they sometimes start to get "burnt out".

I'd have a 1:1 talk with her. Express your concerns. You think she is a great gal, but when this stuff happens it makes it tough on you. Maybe she needs some other shifts (e.g. when her husband? would be home to help?) or maybe she wants less? Ask her for her thoughts on how to best fix it. You would like to keep her on - but you are hoping it was just a "fluke" and things will not keep "coming up". See how she responds.

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

As opposed to other people who are saying that the owner determines the policy, employee absence policy must conform to the standards specified in the labor code - it is the fundamental foundation.

In some countries, employees are given 5-day sick leaves and 5-day vacation leaves in a year. If he/she is absent beyond the allowable number of days, that could be subject to disciplinary action - they should abide by the rules and regulations imposed (rules and regulations that should be clearly stated in their company handbook).

Re: Employee Absence Policy
 

Our employees are college/high school students. We make the schedule a month in advance. If you need off you need to let the manager know before the schedule is made otherwise it is the employees responsibility to either switch shifts with another employee or find a cover. Ofcourse emergencies happen once in a while but not frequently. If an employee starts calling out frequently their hours get cut down as a punishment until they work out their schedule so there is no more calling out. Our employees all talk to each other and help eachother out all the time, I've seen the girls split there shifts in half, trade shifts, give up shifts if one needed more hours, ect. We're lucky, we have a good staff that works like a family helping eachother out and most important they really care about the salon.