NEC Birmingham |  08 - 09 October 2025

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Sustaining a Reliable Workforce: Reducing Absenteeism in Care Homes

Sustaining a Reliable Workforce: Reducing Absenteeism in Care Homes

Absenteeism in care homes significantly impacts the quality of care delivered and your operational efficiency. High absenteeism leads to understaffing, increased workloads, and higher costs. To maintain a reliable workforce, care homes must implement effective strategies to reduce absenteeism.

1. Promote Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction

Low job satisfaction is a primary cause of absenteeism. Employees who feel valued and engaged are less likely to take unscheduled time off. Recognising and rewarding contributions, offering career advancement opportunities, and maintaining open communication can foster a positive work environment. Regular feedback sessions and appreciation events can also boost morale and engagement.

2. Implement Health and Wellness Programs

Health issues frequently cause absenteeism. Care homes can support staff by offering health and wellness programs, including regular check-ups, mental health support, and wellness workshops on nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Encouraging healthy lifestyles and providing healthcare resources can reduce illness-related absences.

3. Offer Flexible Rostering

Rigid schedules can lead to burnout and people taking time off. Flexible scheduling options, such as part-time work, job sharing, or flexible start and end times, allow employees to balance work and personal lives better. Accommodating diverse needs can reduce stress and improve job satisfaction, leading to lower absenteeism rates. Do you embrace technology to help you with your staff rostering?

4. Create a Supportive Work Environment

A supportive work environment is crucial for people feeling part of your team. Are you fostering teamwork, providing adequate resources, ensuring manageable workloads, and promoting a sense of community? As these elements can create a supportive atmosphere. Management should be approachable and willing to address employee concerns.

5. Provide Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development opportunities enhance job satisfaction. Employees are more committed when they see a clear path for growth. Care homes can offer training programs, workshops, and courses to help staff acquire new skills and advance their careers, benefiting both employees and the quality of care. Why not share the wins in a staff newsletter? Which leads us to our next point!

6. Enhance Communication and Transparency

Effective communication is key. Care homes should clearly communicate attendance policies and ensure transparency in tracking and addressing absenteeism. Regular team meetings, newsletters, and an open-door policy facilitate better communication and help identify issues early on.

7. Implement Attendance Incentive Programs

Incentive programs can effectively reduce absenteeism. Attendance bonuses, extra paid time off, or other rewards for maintaining excellent attendance can motivate staff to minimise unscheduled absences and stay committed to their roles. It’s like an adult gold star chart which can work well for some staff (but not for all!).

8. Conduct Regular Employee Surveys

Understanding the root causes of absenteeism is essential. Regular anonymous employee surveys can provide insights into job satisfaction, work environment, and health concerns. Feedback (especially digitally) helps management develop targeted strategies to support staff in their roles and analyse the data fed back.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll have a broad mix of ways to support your care home staff, and create a supportive and engaging work environment. This will improve employee well-being and satisfaction, enhancing the quality of care for residents and benefiting the entire care home community. 

If you are not already benefiting or optimising the benefits of digital HR support, it’s probably worth joining an upcoming webinar. It’s on Tuesday, October 1st, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, led by Sam Maierovits, the Managing Director of Hudson Healthcare. This session will focus on addressing absenteeism in care homes, providing innovative solutions for care home managers. The webinar is proudly supported by Syncurio, Hudson Healthcare’s trusted HR and operations software provider.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a care provider who has already transformed their care home management practices to create a thriving, engaged workforce. Click here to register and secure your spot! 

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