Let’s walk through a scenario-
You have a manager that sets the expectation with his team that work can only occur in the office. He doesn’t support working from home or the coffee shop or the cafeteria downstairs. This manager wants to see employees working and at work.
He has an employee that needs to stay home for their children for a week. They can either take a week off of work and get no work done or they could be flexible and productive. Given their manager’s views there is a high likelihood of them taking a full week off. This leads to lower total productivity and higher absenteesim.
From their manager’s perspective there can be no value while away so they should take vacation. From the organization’s perspective they should add value. The manager’s route leads to the most total days off used by employees. The organization’s promotes total efficiency.
Lack of flexibility encourages higher levels of absenteeism and lower productivity. Absenteeism is a symptom – but not of your employees. It’s a symptom of organizational inflexibility.