Are your workers constantly “out sick” or arriving late? These issues can drive business managers batty. Even worse, employee absenteeism and tardiness may have a significant impact on productivity.

Here are a few simple suggestions for turning things around:

*Educate employees about your policy. Spell it out in the company manual. Then go over the policy in face-to-face meetings.

*Keep track of all occurrences. Maintain a special ledger for this purpose.

*Meet with constant offenders. Discuss the improvement that is expected of them.

*Follow up. Hold another session with the employee. If the problem persists, contact your human resources department.

*Take corrective action when it is warranted. Document all actions carefully.

You may find that these steps will lead to improved performance. At the very least, it shows you are focusing on the issue.