Sickness Absence
Managing sickness absence can be challenging for any business. Below you'll find helpful resources and practical guidance to handle employee absences effectively, ensuring your team stays supported and your business runs smoothly. From understanding legal responsibilities to managing return-to-work processes, we've got you covered.
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Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure
Having a sickness policy and procedure is essential for setting clear expectations around employee absence. Some of the benefits include:
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Ensure Legal Compliance: stay compliant with UK employment laws, reducing the risk of disputes or penalties.
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Increase Clarity and Consistency: all employees know the procedure for reporting illness and receiving support.
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Save Time: a clear process helps to manage absences more effectively, reducing the time involved.
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Enhanced Employee Wellbeing: shows your commitment to employee health and can reduce long-term sickness.
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Improved Reporting: improved absence reporting making it easier to identify trends and patterns so you can tailor action and support accordingly.
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We've created a simple Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure which you can download, tailor and use in your business.
Sickness Absence Record Template
Why use it?
A sickness absence record template is a straightforward yet vital tool for businesses without an HR system to track absences. It ensures accurate and consistent records, promotes transparency in identifying patterns or trends, and supports managers in addressing any underlying issues. This simple tool also facilitates timely conversations about potential support or adjustments to promote employee wellbeing and help minimise future absences.
How to use it:
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TBC
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TBC
Return to work form
Why use it?
A simple but important tool that helps to promote clear communication between the employee and their manager, ensures a formal record of the absence details and helps to identify if any support or adjustments might be needed to aid ongoing health concerns and minimise future absences.
How to use it:
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The form should be completed on the employees first day back to work following a period of absence.
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Their line manager is usually responsible for holding these conversations.
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The conversation should happen in a private environment to ensure confidentiality.
Sickness Absence Self-Certification Form
Why use it?
Using this form is a quick and simple way for you to gather the information your need to determine if an employee qualifies for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This makes it easier to manage payroll and ensure compliance with SSP regulations.
How to use it:
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This form should be completed by the employee for any sickness related absence lasting up to 7 consecutive days.
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The form should be submitted to the individual responsible for payroll (tip: you may wish to include this information when tailoring the document to your business).
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The information can then be used to assess eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay.
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​Always refer to the government website for the latest information on SSP.
Sick Pay Entitlement Letter
Why use it?
The UK has specific laws around statutory sick pay (SSP) which employers must adhere to. Sending a sick pay entitlement letter helps to inform the employee of their sick pay rights, clarify the amount of SSP they are entitled toreceive and provide a paper trail for your records.
How to use it:
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Calculate your employees SSP entitlement using the government calculator.
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Tailor the template letter to reflect the individual circumstances.
Invitation to Sickness Absence Review Meeting
Why use it?
Using this form is a quick and simple way for you to gather the information your need to determine if an employee qualifies for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This makes it easier to manage payroll and ensure compliance with SSP regulations.
How to use it:
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This form should be completed by the employee for any sickness related absence lasting up to 7 consecutive days.
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The form should be submitted to the individual responsible for payroll (tip: you may wish to include this information when tailoring the document to your business).
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The information can then be used to assess eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay.
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​Always refer to the government website for the latest information on SSP.
Sickness Absence Review Meeting Form
Why use it?
The UK has specific laws around statutory sick pay (SSP) which employers must adhere to. Sending a sick pay entitlement letter helps to inform the employee of their sick pay rights, clarify the amount of SSP they are entitled toreceive and provide a paper trail for your records.
How to use it:
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Calculate your employees SSP entitlement using the government calculator.
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Tailor the template letter to reflect the individual circumstances.
Guide to Occupational Health
Why use it?
Using this form is a quick and simple way for you to gather the information your need to determine if an employee qualifies for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This makes it easier to manage payroll and ensure compliance with SSP regulations.
How to use it:
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This form should be completed by the employee for any sickness related absence lasting up to 7 consecutive days.
-
The form should be submitted to the individual responsible for payroll (tip: you may wish to include this information when tailoring the document to your business).
-
The information can then be used to assess eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay.
-
​Always refer to the government website for the latest information on SSP.
Phased Return to Work Plan
Why use it?
The UK has specific laws around statutory sick pay (SSP) which employers must adhere to. Sending a sick pay entitlement letter helps to inform the employee of their sick pay rights, clarify the amount of SSP they are entitled toreceive and provide a paper trail for your records.
How to use it:
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Calculate your employees SSP entitlement using the government calculator.
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Tailor the template letter to reflect the individual circumstances.