With absenteeism and rising sick leave requests placing increasing strain on businesses, Saint Lucia’s employers are taking decisive action.

On April 14, the Saint Lucia Employers Federation (SLEF) hosted a breakfast meeting aimed at addressing the growing challenges of absenteeism, its impact on productivity, and operational costs.

The event attracted a full house of human resource professionals and business leaders eager to explore practical solutions for fostering healthier, more productive work environments. The discussions centred around understanding the root causes of absenteeism and developing workplace cultures that encourage employee engagement and well-being.

Goretti Paul, Managing Director of HRWISE, emphasised the importance of creating positive organisational cultures alongside sound policies.

“It’s about creating the right culture within organisations  ensuring there is respect, ensuring that managers are adequately trained to deal with employees, and creating an environment where people want to come to work. That, in turn, will reduce absenteeism and its cost to employers,” Paul explained.

Cornelia Jn Baptiste, Executive Director of the Saint Lucia Employers Federation, noted the timeliness of the meeting, given the steady rise in medical leave requests.

“Employers have observed an increase in medical leave requests, which in many instances causes undue hardship for businesses. Today’s discussion focused on how employers can manage this responsibly and fairly, while ensuring business continuity,” she stated.

Participants agreed that open dialogue and shared experiences are critical for developing effective strategies. The Federation is advocating for an approach that balances employee well-being with business needs, and aims to take the conversation to the national level.

“This situation directly impedes productivity,” Jn Baptiste added. “Our hope is that from these discussions, the Federation can advocate for national attention to this issue, ensuring that employers are part of the solution, and that the concerns of businesses are meaningfully addressed.”

The event also highlighted the importance of equipping managers with the skills to foster open communication and demonstrate empathy towards employees facing personal and health challenges. These practices are seen as essential for reducing absenteeism and building resilient organisations.

While the meeting has concluded, the dialogue continues. Saint Lucia’s employers are now equipped with fresh insights and a renewed commitment to creating healthier, more engaging workplaces a crucial step toward improving national productivity.