Pictured above: Justine Vaughan, Founder and Director of Triangle HR

Shropshire employers are being encouraged to adopt a flexible and fair approach to help employees balance work and family commitments during the upcoming school holidays.

Shrewsbury-based human resources consultancy Triangle HR is urging local businesses to put practical policies in place and has launched two free fact-sheets - 'Employee Rewards and Benefits' and 'Managing Sickness and Absence' - to help avoid potential problems with staff absenteeism throughout the summer.

Justine Vaughan, Founder and Director of Triangle HR, said: "Millions of working days are lost each year due to sickness absence, with the issue particularly prevalent during school holidays when many employees have to juggle their jobs with the additional pressure of finding childcare. It's no surprise, especially with the ever-increasing cost of childcare, that some parents are tempted to 'throw a sickie' so they can stay off and look after their children, but employers who demonstrate a proactive and flexible attitude can nip this problem in the bud before it even becomes an issue."

Justine recommends that where possible, employers should try to offer staff flexible working options such as job sharing, flexitime, shift-swapping, and working from home.

"Schemes such as these can be provided on either a formal or informal basis, but it's worth bearing in mind there is now actually a statutory provision, where employees with a parental responsibility for children aged under 17, who have at least 26 weeks continuous service, are able to apply for flexible working rights, a request which can only be refused on legitimate business grounds.

"Employers who adopt such a proactive and forward-thinking approach not only reap the reward of fewer unnecessary staff 'sick days', but they also tend to benefit from increased loyalty and staff retention, higher levels of performance, and a happier, more motivated work force," Justine Vaughan added.

For further advice and guidance, employers can request copies of Triangle HR's free fact-sheets 'Employee Rewards and Benefits' and 'Managing Sickness and Absence' by emailing info@trianglehr.co.uk.

Triangle HR offers a full consultancy service covering every area of employment and provides a professional, cost-effective solution for businesses across the region. For further information please call 01743 453170, 07801 500462, visit www.trianglehr.co.uk or email Justine on justine@trianglehr.co.uk.