Vol. 444 No. 6
107 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the support and assistance, if any, that is available to enterprises from his Department to address the problem of absenteeism in the work-place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The control of absenteeism is a key element in managing an organisation and is, therefore, the responsibility of management at the work-place. Experience has indicated that those enterprises which have adopted specific absence control policies and measures, including the maintenance of relevant records, have been successful in reducing absenteeism.
It is, accordingly, clearly in the interest of enterprises to adopt suitable absenteeism control strategies. While my Department does not provide any direct support in this area, assistance is available to member companies of such representative bodies as the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). A report on absenteeism in Irish industry, entitled "Ireland's Missing Workforce", published by IBEC in 1993, is relevant in this regard.
