Mondial UK reduces absence and increases productivity : A collaborative approach to managing health and well‐being

Purpose – Demonstrates how, through monitoring and management of staff sickness in 2005, Mondial UK successfully reduced sickness absence. Design/methodology/approach – Draws upon the experience of Mondial's implementation of a sickness absence management programme, driven by the HR department but which brought together the business as a whole, from the executive board through to roadside technicians, to ensure its success. Findings – Describes how staff absence levels within technical services and among shift workers in the operations centre were previously very high. The company focused on encouraging staff to take responsibility for their health and well being, empowering line managers better to address absenteeism and making changes to the profit‐related pay (PRP) scheme to target frequent short‐term absenteeism.Practical implicationsShows how a focus on staff health and well being as an integral part of a business can make a positive impact on its productivity and profitability. Originality/value – Highlights a year‐on‐year reduction in average absence figures per employee.