HR Glossary
Reporting Tools
What are Reporting Tools?
Reporting tools are features within absence management platforms that collect, analyse, and present data on employee attendance, sickness absence, and workforce wellbeing. These tools transform raw absence data into clear, actionable insights that help HR teams and managers understand patterns, identify risks, and make informed decisions.
In the context of absence management, reporting tools provide real-time visibility into when and why employees are absent, how long absences last, and how absence trends change over time. By presenting this information through dashboards, charts, and downloadable reports, organisations can monitor attendance more effectively and respond proactively to potential issues.
Why are Reporting Tools Important in Absence Management?
Accurate reporting is essential for effective absence management. Without reliable data, it can be difficult for organisations to identify patterns such as frequent short-term absences, long-term sickness trends, or absence hotspots within specific teams or departments.
Reporting tools help employers:
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Monitor overall absence levels across the organisation
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Identify recurring absence patterns or trends
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Track the duration and frequency of sickness absence
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Ensure absence policies are applied consistently
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Support compliance with internal policies and external regulations
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Make informed decisions about employee wellbeing and support
By providing clear and consistent data, reporting tools enable organisations to move from a reactive approach to a proactive absence management strategy.
Types of Reports Used in Absence Management
Absence management reporting tools typically offer a range of standard and customisable reports. These may include:
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Absence trend reports: Show patterns over time, such as increases in sickness absence during certain periods or within particular departments.
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Bradford Factor reports: Calculate attendance scores based on frequency and duration of absence to help identify employees with frequent short-term absences.
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Return-to-work and case management reports: Track return to work interviews, ongoing absence cases, and actions taken to support employees.
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Department or location reports: Provide insights into absence levels across different teams, sites, or business units to identify areas that may require additional support.
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Wellbeing and health trend reports: Highlight common reasons for absence, such as stress, musculoskeletal issues, or seasonal illness, helping organisations address underlying causes.
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Compliance and audit reports: Ensure accurate record keeping and provide documentation for internal reviews or external audits.
These insights allow organisations to take targeted action, whether that involves reviewing workloads, introducing wellbeing initiatives, or providing additional support to specific teams.
How Reporting Tools Support Better Decision-Making
Reporting tools provide the data needed to make informed, evidence-based decisions about workforce health and attendance. Rather than relying on assumptions, HR teams and managers can use real-time information to identify emerging issues and intervene early.
For example, if reporting highlights an increase in stress-related absence within a particular team, managers can investigate potential causes such as workload or organisational change. If certain roles or departments experience higher absence levels, additional training, support, or reasonable adjustments may be introduced.
Regular reporting also helps organisations measure the effectiveness of absence management strategies over time, ensuring that policies and interventions deliver meaningful results.
The Role of Reporting Tools in the GoodShape Platform
GoodShape’s reporting tools provide organisations with comprehensive visibility into employee absence and wellbeing. Its platform collects and analyses absence data in real time, presenting it through intuitive dashboards and detailed reports that are accessible to HR teams and managers.
Through GoodShape’s reporting functionality, organisations can monitor absence trends, track individual and team attendance, and identify underlying causes of absence. The platform enables users to generate tailored reports that support absence reviews, workforce planning, and strategic decision-making.
GoodShape also integrates reporting with its broader absence management and wellbeing support services. This allows organisations to move beyond simply recording absence and instead take proactive steps to support employees, reduce absenteeism, and improve overall workforce health.
By providing clear, accurate, and actionable data, reporting tools within platforms like GoodShape help organisations manage absence more effectively, support employee wellbeing, and maintain a productive and engaged workforce.