Prepared by: _____

Date: ___________
Reviewed by: ____
Date: _________

ABSENTEEISM
INTERNAL CONTROL QUESTIONNAIRE
Introduction

Absenteeism is a human capital risk. A key goal of any organization is to be a good

employer. If employees feel that they can exploit loopholes within an organization, they
do not turn up for work; this impacts on their self-worth and has a detrimental effect on
the organization.

Question Yes No N/A Comments

Corporate Plan/Department Plan
• Who has ultimate responsibility for
managing absenteeism?
• Is there a Corporate Champion?
• Is there a section within the
Corporate Plan that states that a key
goal is to reduce employee
absenteeism?
• Is the reduction of absenteeism, a
key goal within the Departmental
Plan?
• Is this objective set out in the
Personal Development Plan of the
Head of Department and his/her
managers?
• Are targets set and how is this
monitored?
Policy
• Does an absence policy exist?
• How widely is it publicized?
• Does this policy include the roles
and responsibilities of staff?
• What are the trigger points?
• How is absence reported, for
example, on the first day of absence
does the employee contact HR or
their Line Manager?
• What happens then?
Recording
• Who records the absence and how?
• Is this process consistent?
• How is duplication avoided?
The Absence Process
• Is there a defined process?
• Is the process legally compliant?
• What is stated in the employment

Absenteeism ICQ
 Prepared by: _____
Date: ___________
Reviewed by: ____
Date: _________
Question Yes No N/A Comments
contract?
• Does the organization undertake
pre-employment screening?
• Where the potential employee has a
history of high levels of absence is
this recorded and taken into account
prior to appointment?
Certification
• Is a standardized form used to
record absence stating the reason,
length of time and condition?
• At what point is the self-
certification form completed?
• After how many days is a doctor’s
note required?
• When is the matter referred to
Occupational Health?
Payment
• What are the qualifying periods and
amounts, which are paid?
• Does management have a say in
this?
Long Periods
• For long periods of absence or
recurrent absence, does line
management, HR or Occupational
Health get involved?
• Is a return to work interview
undertaken?
Return to Work
• When staff return to work are they
offered restrictive duties or is there
a phasing-out period?
Disciplinary Procedures
• Is there a Dismissal Policy in place
to deal with recurring and frequent
absence?
• Are staff that have excessive
absences subject to sanctions?
• Is this contained in the contract of
employment?
Training
• Does the organization have training
regarding positive absence
management?
• Who organizes this training?

Absenteeism ICQ
 Prepared by: _____
Date: ___________
Reviewed by: ____
Date: _________
Question Yes No N/A Comments
• Is there a Stress Committee?
• Does the organization hold stress
workshops?
• Is a confidential advice line
provided to staff?
• Is confidential counseling available
where stress or harassment is
identified as a problem?
Management Information
• What kind of information is
reported to Senior Management?
• Do reports go to meetings of the
Personnel Committee and to the
Board?
• Can trends be identified and is
benchmarking undertaken in
comparison to other sectors?
• Do the reports benchmark
departmental absences throughout
the year?
• How does management deal with
departments who exceed sickness
targets?
• Are departments that have reduced
their levels of sickness rewarded
and how is this done?

Absenteeism ICQ