Royal Mail succeeds with 'carrot and stick' absence policy

The introduction of modern sickness absence management techniques, including well-publicised financial incentives for attendance, has significantly improved attendance levels at Royal Mail.

Radically revised sickness absence management procedures at Royal Mail have been part of a continuing process that is aimed at enabling the one-time monopoly supplier of postal services to compete in the EU market for post services, which was opened to private contractors in February.