22 September 2023

Absence Manager update (Monday 25 September 2023)

All open absences have now been loaded into Empactis.

Please note that every open absence - including any added on 25 September - must now be processed through the new system.

Managers: if you have colleagues off, when appropriate the staff member should now be closing those absences using the absence line.

Thank you for supporting the new system.

All Mersey Care colleagues are to use Absence Manager from Monday to report any unplanned absence

From the start of all shifts on 25 September, any sickness or other unplanned time off work MUST be reported on the Absence Manager line.

The number is 0330 818 6439.  It’s a local rate number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Please can I ask all colleagues to make sure this number is stored and accessible if needed outside of work, for example, in a personal mobile phone or diary. We are issuing small business cards with the number on this week as well.

This is a culture change for many but is designed to make managing unplanned leave easier and more efficient. Extensive tests amongst teams across the divisions have been successful.

Managers – please remind your teams and check this number is noted. You will be asked via the system to call the absent colleague back within 24 hours (or as soon as practical). If your manager is not available, their delegated cover will make the call.

Everyone must have their assignment number to report on the phone line. This can be found on your payslip. Please make a careful note of yours. There is space on the business card to do this.

As part of the build up, we have regularly asked that colleagues check that their ESR hierarchy is up to date. Managers are asked to continue to support staff to ensure this is right.

Absence Manager is now the only way to make sure time off is logged formally on systems relating to pay and time management. You may also have local arrangements, but unless 0330 818 6439 is called, it will not be recorded properly.

Unplanned absence includes:

  • Sickness 
  • All unplanned or health related absences
  • Carers’ Leave  
  • Dependents’ Leave  
  • Bereavement Leave  
  • Compassionate Leave

Colleagues have asked many questions and the answers are collected on YourSpace. You can access this guidance on your work machine or from home. The business card has a QR code to scan if you need to find the information from home.

Find out more: https://yourspace.merseycare.nhs.uk/health-absence-system

Thank you.

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