People management made easy.

Employee absence causes unexpected and sometimes significant strain on team resource, with even further productivity loss through time spent arranging/briefing agency cover and handling process admin.

From the time an employee calls in sick to their return to work, line managers are expected to perform a number of extra duties on top of their role. This added responsibility comes with increased risk if processes are not followed correctly. 

Expecting line managers to handle absence in the first instance creates a difficult conflict of interest.

Conscientious managers want employees to feel comfortable talking to them, but must also maintain professional boundaries, ensuring absence is genuine and practically assessing the impact on the wider team. Crucially, managers are not health professionals and shouldn't be expected to fulfil a role they have little to no training on.