In many production environments, rising absence rates point to a bigger issue: people who no longer feel connected to their work.
Gallup’s research shows that engaged employees are dramatically less likely to stay away from the job – and in a factory, even one missing team member can disrupt an entire shift.
When absence becomes the norm, the impact is felt everywhere:
- Slower output
- Increased overtime and replacement costs
- More strain on those who do show up
- A higher risk of mistakes of safety or safety incidents
So what actually helps?
Treat engagement as a leadership responsibility – not simply an HR process.
Small, everyday actions matter: communicating clearly, recognising effort, involving people in decisions, and making sure the voices on the floor genuinely shape the way work is done.
Absence is rarely just an attendance problem.
It’s feedback. The real question is whether we choose to act on it.