Don’t be caught out this Six Nations!

Every good HR manager knows that absenteeism will spike at certain times of the year and around certain events – especially major sporting tournaments.

With the 2015 Six Nations about to kick off, companies should brace themselves for an increase in sick days during the tournament as fans either overindulge over the weekend or want to get a head-start when it comes to weekends away.

The tournament kicks off on Friday, with Wales and England battling it out in the Millennium Stadium.

Companies take different approaches to managing such a problem. Some take a firm stance and may take a disciplinary route in some instances. Others will make allowance for employees’ overindulgences in the hope of engendering better long-term relations.

But the real question firms should be asking is: how much does such absenteeism cost? A quick analysis on the cost of annual leave could well change their approach to such problems.

Conducting such an analysis is almost impossible using old-fashioned spreadsheets. An easy solution is to instead use Activ Absence, a cloud based and easy to use absence management system created by Codel Software.

Activ Absence allows HR managers to monitor, analyse and manage the implications of both planned and unplanned absence.

Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director of Codel Software, said:

“Spikes in absenteeism represent a continual challenge for HR managers. Our software can help companies firstly get a grip on the implications of such problems and help inform directors to make the right decision in terms of how to deal with this issue.

“Many companies still use spreadsheets to record sickness. These cannot do what our software does. Activ Absence is a brilliant way to keep on top of everything. It is extremely user friendly and requires little training. We will also prepare an individual cost benefit analysis for your business free of charge.”