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Course Description

Learn appropriate ways to respond to complex absenteeism issues in the workplace. As concerns such as chronic illness, addiction, mental health and excessive absence become a growing challenge in the workplace, it's important to develop useful employee support and attendance management policies that protect employee privacy and uphold human rights.

Become familiar with the legal principles that are central to effective employee support and attendance management programs, policies and best practices so you can foster a healthy workplace culture.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Communicate fundamental legal principles related to employee support and attendance management and evaluate your organization’s practices against legal requirements
  • Strategically develop a successful employee support and attendance management plan that reflects your organization’s needs
  • Identify best practices for employee support programs and services, including upholding a workplace culture that promotes wellness
  • Respond appropriately to absentee issues—including excessive absenteeism, chronic illness, an aging workforce, addiction, mental health, employees with no reasonable prospect of returning to work, and the duty to accommodate complex disabilities
  • Communicate with employees and health care practitioners about medical information, while protecting employee privacy
  • Collect, examine, interpret and summarize absenteeism data to inform practices and/or present a business case for employee support and attendance management
  • Effectively prepare for an employee support and attendance management audit

Course Topics

  • Employee Support and Attendance Management Plan Development
  • Legal Principles of Employee Support and Attendance Management
  • Employee Support and Attendance Management Practices and Best Practices
  • Culpable and Non-Culpable Absences
  • Employee Communication
  • Complex Issue Response
  • Duty to Accommodate
  • Absenteeism Data Analysis
  • Attendance Management Audits

Assessment

Assessment Item Weight
How Does Absenteeism Affect Your Workplace? 10%
Attendance Management Procedure Review 15%
Attendance at Work Case Study 20%
Putting the Pieces Together 25%
Final Examination 30%
Total 100%

Please note that the course assessment is subject to change.

Technical Requirements

You are responsible for ensuring that your computer system meets the necessary system requirements. Use the browser check tool to ensure your browser settings are compatible and up to date (results will be displayed in a new browser window).

*Course details are subject to change.

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Enrol Now - Select a section to enrol in

Section Title
Employee Support and Attendance Management
Type
Online Synchronous
Days
Tuesday
Time
9:00AM to 4:00PM
Dates
May 12, 2026 to June 09, 2026
Schedule and Location
Contact Hours
30.0
Location
  • Virtual
Delivery Options
Online Synchronous  
Course Fee(s)
Potential Discount(s)

Section Notes

Early bird registration rates are offered as follows: $855.00 when registering 60 days prior to the course start date. $895.00 when registering 30 days prior to the course start date. Regular registration fees apply for registrations made less than 30 days prior to the course start date and are priced at $995.00. 

Course registration closes Sunday May 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET (based on availability).

*If one or more classes need to be rescheduled due to extenuating circumstances, the rescheduled class will be held on Tuesday June 16, 2026.

This course uses CourseLink, the University of Guelph’s Learning Management System and live video conferencing. Please ensure you have the technical requirements to participate in the course. CourseLink access begins Friday May 8, 2026.

You are required to attend all scheduled online synchronous (live online) sessions every Tuesday.

Assignments may be due after the final live online class date. Details will be provided in the Course Outline in CourseLink.

If you are new to online learning, we encourage you to visit our Online Learning at UofG resource page.

View the Technical Considerations for CourseLink and Zoom.

View the Withdrawal, Transfer and Refund Policy - Continuing Education courses under six weeks in duration.

Contact the School of Continuing Studies team if you require assistance.

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