Practices in Assuring Employee Availability

This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency managers, operations, and human resources staffs responsible for attracting and retaining good employees. It will also be of interest to others who interact with transit agencies to help employees succeed. This synthesis presents state-of-the-practice information about the various actions transit agencies (and other employers) have taken to help ensure the availability of quality employees in an increasingly competitive employment environment. It focuses on the practices and policies transit agencies have in place to help minimize absenteeism from which other agencies may find useful applications. This TRB report addresses three basic categories: (1) preventive measures designed to stop absenteeism from occurring, (2) management interventions used to deal with absenteeism when it does occur, and (3) other management strategies. In particular, it focuses on practices related to employee selection, internal motivation of employees, labor--management cooperation, supervisory involvement, incentive and discipline programs, and workers compensation programs.