Bosses have been warned to take advice before clamping down on workers over poor attendance.

The Yorkshire division of the Engin-eering Employers' Federation is concerned at the risk of firms reacting to rising absenteeism with over-hasty rules.

It has organised a course in November to help firms deal with the problem.

"We often find that in companies where attendance problems develop, there is a history of rather lax control in the past," said Ian Hughes, director of the EEF Yorkshire and Humberside.