The business trainer in management of people and relationships in the workplace, Javier Ondarra, gave the presentation “How to reduce absenteeism and build commitment in the new social context” during the Ekonomus Tourism and Employment Conference, held in Puerto del Carmen on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the tourist enclave by the Tías city council and Lanzarote Media.
Ondarra, founder and director of the training platform Is2coach, began his speech by openly reflecting on his professional career to emphasize the importance of adequately leading workforces: “I was not a leader, I was not a good colleague and today I dedicate myself to sharing tools and skills for what I consider to be the most complicated thing in organizations and companies, which is the management of people".
During his presentation of macroeconomic data, Ondarra detailed that total absenteeism in Spain reaches 7.2%, with a Temporary Incapacity (IT) rate of 5.6%, which represents 1.6 million people absent daily from their jobs. Likewise, he placed the Canary Islands in the first national position for medical leave, with 7.6% in IT, placing it 1.7 points above the national average.
For the consultant, the origin of the issue must be placed at the highest level of management: "This is not an issue for the human resources department. It is a management issue, of the CEO, of the general director, of the team leader. This is a strategic issue that directly affects the company's bottom line."
Furthermore, he addressed the phenomenon of "frequent attendees," pointing out that only 16.6% of workers account for 69.6% of sick leave processes and 64.5% of lost workdays.
Faced with this scenario, Ondarra advocated for the implementation of "soft measures" focused on inclusive leadership and organizational culture, specifying: "This is not about being nice. Caring is asking, listening, empathizing... And another day, it might be time to bang the table."
He also highlighted the critical impact of recognizing the effort of work teams, warning that in organizations where this does not exist, "absenteeism multiplies by 16.4 and low productivity by 15.1."
The labor relations expert urged to move beyond temporary fixes and design two-year plans that promote flexibility and staff loyalty: "I'm not talking about retaining talent, we're talking about loyalty. This is the key, that you want to stay."
And it concluded with a call to action for business leaders: "Absenteeism is the other side of engagement. Be brave".
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