While text messaging has become a relatively common practice in today’s workplace, some employers are still hesitant about receiving notice of an absence through text messages, social media or email.
Research conducted by Rune Vejby, a cultural analyst who wrote a book about how text-based media is changing relationships, found only 33 per cent of managers at small- to medium-sized organizations in the United States find it acceptable for employees to call in sick that way. About 38 per cent will accept it but prefer phone calls, while 29 per cent find the practice unacceptable.
Read: Should employees be able to report sickness via text, social media?
The question of whether or not employees should be able to report absences through social media or text is the topic of this week’s online poll. Have your say on the issue here.
Last week’s poll asked whether it’s a good idea for benefits plans to cover faith-based healing services such as those provided by Christian Science practitioners.
Less than one-fifth (17 per cent) of respondents said yes, employers should cover such services if employees feel they benefit from them. But the majority (74 per cent) said no, faith-based healing isn’t a priority in light of other demands on benefits plans. The remaining nine per cent believe it’s possibly a good idea, but there needs to be more rigorous evidence on the value of faith-based healing.
Read: The pros and cons of including faith-based healing in benefits plans
