Creative Ways to Improve Attendance at Work

Maintaining good levels of attendance is an ongoing challenge. Yet it often falls to the wayside in a busy contact centre – particularly when an unscheduled staff shortage puts more pressure on everyone else.

So how do you drive good attendance into your business culture? What makes a team member wake up in the morning and want to come to work? Unfortunately, there’s no silver bullet, but there are lots of positive changes you can make to start shifting the dial in the right direction.

How to Improve Attendance at Work

1. Refocus Your Efforts on Your Most Reliable Team Members

If you find yourself spending too much time managing a small group of employees with poor attendance, it’s time to rethink your approach. Often, these individuals have already disengaged, and their impact on the team can be draining.

Rather than pouring energy into trying to correct their behaviour, focus on the larger percentage of your team who are eager to contribute but may need a little extra motivation. This shift in focus allows you to invest in the people who truly want to be part of your business.

2. Offer Flexibility Wherever Possible

Offering flexible work arrangements can be a game-changer for attendance. Whether it’s through flexible scheduling, work-from-home options, or shift-swapping systems, giving employees control over their schedules can improve work–life balance and improve attendance.

“Hangover Breakfast” for Late-Night Workers

If you employ many younger workers or students, consider offering a “hangover breakfast” on days following popular social nights to encourage attendance. Even small gestures like this can reduce absenteeism related to social activities.

Flexible Start and End Times

Allow employees to adjust their start and end times slightly. For instance, letting someone start an hour later or leave an hour earlier might help them manage personal responsibilities without missing an entire day of work.

Compressed Workweeks

Some employees may benefit from working longer hours over fewer days, such as a four-day work week. This option can reduce burnout and give employees more time to recharge, leading to better attendance.

Annual Leave Planning

Encourage employees to book time off throughout the year to prevent burnout. For example, ask them to plan at least one long weekend per quarter and aim to book 60% of their leave early in the year. This helps reduce last-minute absences and ensures the team stays refreshed.

If you want to know how to successfully build and manage flexible schedules, read our article: How to Build Flexible Schedules in the Contact Centre

3. Connect Employees With Your Brand (and Their Colleagues)

The foundation of good attendance lies in creating a work environment that people enjoy being part of. When employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to want to come to work regularly. Consider the following:

Product Development

Did you know, including your frontline in product development will bring your agents closer to your brand and can help improve attendance and employee engagement.

Regularly Seek Employee Feedback

When you understand your agents’ challenges and interests, you can implement changes based on their input, making them feel heard and valued and increasing their commitment to the company.

Team-Building Activities

Invest time in activities that promote camaraderie and team spirit. When employees have strong relationships with their colleagues, they are more likely to show up because they enjoy the social aspects of work.

For some tried and tested examples from our Call Centre Helper readers, read our article: Kick-Start Your Next Team Engagement Day

4. Incentivise Good Attendance

Incentives are a proven way to motivate employees to maintain good attendance. By creating appealing rewards for consistent attendance, you give people something tangible to work toward.

Pay-Day Lunch for Full-Attendance Employees

Treat employees with perfect attendance to a monthly lunch. This not only recognizes their efforts but also helps build camaraderie among the team, fostering relationships that can make work more enjoyable.

VIP Lounge for Top Attendees

If space allows, set up a “VIP lounge” with perks like comfy seating, free snacks, or exclusive access to a Friday buffet. Employees with consecutive days of attendance gain entry, while those who miss a few days need to work to regain access.

Leaderboard for Good Attendance

Create a fun, competitive atmosphere by introducing a good attendance leaderboard. Offer small spot prizes or monthly rewards for the top performers, encouraging friendly competition without the pressure of public shaming.

Attendance-Based Bonuses

Introduce bonuses that are directly tied to attendance records. These could be quarterly or yearly and act as a powerful motivator for those seeking financial incentives.

Paid Time Off for Good Attendance

Offer extra days of paid annual leave to those with exemplary attendance. Knowing they could earn an additional day off can prompt employees to avoid missing workdays unnecessarily.

Monthly Raffle for Good Attendance

Reward employees who have excellent attendance with entry into a monthly raffle. Prizes could range from gift cards to event tickets. The prospect of winning might make people think twice about calling in sick for minor reasons.

Need inspiration for engaging staff incentives? read our article: 100 Great Staff Incentives to Motivate Your Team

5. Support Employee Wellbeing to Nurture Loyalty and Goodwill

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes personal issues or health concerns can affect attendance. Employers who demonstrate empathy and provide support will find that employees are more likely to remain loyal and committed, even during tough times.

Offer “Duvet Days”

Introduce a limited number of “duvet days” or personal days that employees can use when they need time to rest and recharge. This flexibility can prevent burnout and reduce the likelihood of staff calling in sick just to get a break.

For advice on how duvet days can help reduce staff absence and improve employee wellbeing, read our article: How Duvet Days can Reduce Staff Absence

Be Creative With Compassionate Leave

Beyond standard leave policies, consider offering flexibility for life’s unexpected challenges. For example, allow a day off for a pet’s death. This flexibility can foster loyalty and reduce the misuse of sick days.

Train Mental Health First Aiders

Mental health can play a significant role in absenteeism. By training staff as Mental Health First Aiders, you provide employees with a safe space to seek help. This can prevent issues from escalating and support long-term wellbeing, contributing to better attendance.

This approach can also collectively give you a greater chance to spot anyone needing additional support.

6. Monitor and Address Absenteeism Patterns

Tracking attendance data can help you identify patterns of absenteeism and address underlying causes. Use this data to:

Identify Common Absenteeism Triggers

Whether it’s specific days of the week, seasonal trends, or particular departments with higher absenteeism rates, tracking these patterns allows you to take targeted action.

For an easy way to identify absenteeism patterns or triggers, read our article: The Bradford Factor – Improving Contact Centre Absenteeism

Adjust Scheduling Based on Trends

If you notice that certain days, like Mondays or Fridays, have more absences, consider adjusting the schedule to allow for flexible start times or offering incentives for attending work on these days.

7. Encourage a Culture of Accountability

In addition to providing support, it’s important to foster a culture of accountability. Employees should understand that their attendance impacts the entire team and the overall business, and so any penalties should reflect that.

Tie Career Progression to Attendance

Consider incorporating attendance into promotion criteria. While it shouldn’t be the sole factor, recognizing reliable attendance as part of an employee’s overall performance can motivate those aiming for advancement.

Treat Everyone Fairly

Don’t punish agents for the same behaviours leaders are getting away with.

8. Improve Employee Engagement Through Leadership

Strong leadership plays a key role in employee engagement and attendance. When leaders model good attendance and maintain strong relationships with their teams, employees are more likely to feel valued and accountable.

One-to-One Coffee Meetings

Give team leaders a small budget to take employees out for a monthly one-to-one coffee. This informal setting can help managers learn about personal challenges their team members may be facing, allowing you to offer flexible solutions that maintain good attendance.

Leadership by Example

Leaders who consistently show up and are engaged in the workplace set a powerful example for the rest of the team. By modelling commitment, managers can inspire employees to follow suit.

Want to know what makes a great team leader? Read our article: Team Leadership: What Makes a Great Leader?

Semi-Annual Growth Interviews

When people are regularly reminded of their own vision and the company’s growth, this can have a positive impact on attendance. As Bill Quiseng, Chief Experience Officer at billquiseng.com, explains:

9. Establish Clear Attendance Policies

Having clear, well-communicated attendance policies helps employees understand what is expected of them and the consequences of excessive absenteeism. Ensure that your policy is fair and transparent:

Consistent Enforcement

Apply your attendance policy consistently across all employees to avoid favouritism or confusion. Employees are more likely to adhere to rules they perceive as fair.

Progressive Discipline

Rather than jumping straight to punishment, implement a progressive discipline approach. Start with a gentle reminder, followed by written warnings, and escalate as necessary. This approach gives employees the opportunity to improve their attendance before facing serious consequences.

10. Make Coming to Work Fun and Varied

Don’t let your incentives go stale! Keep your work environment fun and varied to help boost employee engagement and attendance levels.

Appoint a “Fun Committee”

Empower your employees by creating a “fun committee” that can organize activities or events with a budget. Giving them ownership of office morale initiatives can increase their engagement and, in turn, their attendance.

Random Reward Days

Surprise your employees with random acts of appreciation, such as a spontaneous pizza lunch or small gifts on their desks. These unplanned perks create a buzz in the office and encourage people to show up, wondering what they might miss if they stay home.

For more fun work incentives to help motive your team, read our article: 100 Great Staff Incentives to Motivate Your Team

If you’re looking for more tips on managing attendance in your contact centre, read these articles next:

• Top Tips for Improving Attendance and Adherence
• 46 Tips for Managing Absence
• Need to Reduce Absence in Your Contact Centre? Here’s How!

Author: Megan Jones
Reviewed by: Hannah Swankie