Sickness Absence Management
Managing sickness absence fairly and confidently.
Sickness absence is one of the most common HR challenges businesses face. We help you manage it consistently, compliantly, and with the right balance of support and accountability.
Before You Set Off
Picking Up the Pace
Maintain Momentum
Shifting Up a Gear
Bumps in the Road
Changing Direction
Short-term and long-term absence
Short-term absence, typically individual or repeated sick days, is usually managed through clear trigger points, return-to-work conversations, and consistent application of your absence policy. The Bradford Factor is a commonly used tool to identify patterns that warrant closer attention.
Long-term absence, where an employee is off for four weeks or more, requires a different approach. Regular welfare contact, occupational health referrals, and careful consideration of the employee's prognosis and your operational needs all become relevant.
FIT notes and what they mean
When an employee is off sick for more than seven days, they need to provide a FIT note from their GP or another healthcare professional. FIT notes can say an employee is not fit for work, or that they may be fit for work with adjustments.
Where a FIT note suggests an employee may be fit with adjustments, you are not obliged to implement those adjustments, but you should consider them seriously. We advise on how to respond in each situation.
Return to work
A return-to-work interview after every absence, however short, is one of the most effective ways to manage sickness absence. It signals that absence is noticed, provides an opportunity to understand what happened, and allows you to consider whether any support or adjustments are needed.
We include return-to-work forms and guidance in our document bank and will help you build this into your process consistently.
When to seek occupational health support
If an employee has been absent for an extended period, if their condition is having a significant impact on their ability to do their job, or if you are unsure whether they have a disability under the Equality Act, an occupational health referral may be appropriate. We advise on when and how to refer, and what to do when the report comes back.
What is sickness absence management?
Sickness absence management is the process by which an employer records, monitors, and responds to employee absence due to illness. Done well, it supports employees who are genuinely unwell, identifies patterns that may need addressing, and ensures the business is protected if absence becomes a formal issue.
For businesses, a single long-term absence or a pattern of repeated short absences can have a significant operational impact. Having a clear, consistent process means you can respond appropriately without leaving yourself exposed.
Common Questions
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