Bugbear of employers
Sevaka Upadeshana Sevaya ha
Nivadu Nogena Vadata Nopamineema
Author: Dorathi Abeywickrama
Absenteeism is the bugbear of most employers. According to experts
who have researched this phenomenon, absenteeism is a serious problem in
all sectors of employment. As a result there is serious production loss,
loss of manpower and manifold problems that face the employer in his day
to-day-task of carrying on his enterprise successfully.
Dorothy Abeywickrama, author of a number of books on employee
counselling and concerned with the need for a "gentle discipline"
through counselling, has dealt with the problem of absenteeism in her
newest publication Employee Counselling and Absenteeism which was
launched during September's literary celebrations.
The English version of this book was published several years ago and
the Sinhala version which she has now brought out is a response to
requests to enable a larger clientele to make use of its valuable
contents. It must be emphasised that the present publication is not a
translation of the English version, but has been expanded with new
chapters added to it.
Alongside absenteeism, Ms. Abeywickrama deals with another important
aspect of maintaining an effective and contented workforce. This is
absenteeism combined with counselling. The present book contains
important areas of how this can be used, culling from her many years of
experience and research in this field as well as her post graduate
studies both here and abroad.
The real worth of the current publication is her personal experiences
in the field of counselling are also included here. Employee counselling
and maintaining an effective and productive workforce have to be
combined dealing with chronic absenteeism. Thus the book provides a two
fold purpose and is a complete guide to employers on how to deal with
this specific problem adequately.
The eight chapters takes the reader through the several stages of
action beginning with looking at the need for counselling, an
introduction to counselling for employees and going on to controlling
and reducing absenteeism. The author also discusses absenteeism and
possible correlates and provides a system to minimize absenteeism
through counselling. There are also detailed steps to take when
counselling and the qualities and competencies needed in a counsellor
who takes on the job of counselling.
Of diverse counselling theories and techniques practised in the world
today, the most pertinent to the employee situation can be selected. To
facilitate this the author has included a number of case studies from
her own experience and discussed how employee counselling can be a
motivational intervention.
The case studies are interesting and illustrative and tells the
reader of three cases of absenteeism, of Tissa the poor performer,
Bertie, the absentee machine operator and Susantha, the chronic absentee
who receive family counselling.
The author has used an easy, fluent style through which the contents
come through clearly, even to the uninitiated who knows little or
nothing of counselling. However, there are, perforce, situations which
need close study to get at the core.
This is a book which can be of help to all employers who sincerely
have the best interests of their employees and who appreciate the fact
that the success or failure of their enterprises rest squarely on the
effective performance of those who serve them.
Ranjitha Balasubramanium |
