Sickness and Injury Absence policy
This policy is included in the Employee Handbook.
Periods of short-term, persistent or long term sickness or injury absence must be managed clearly and fairly. This policy defines what needs to happen, when and by whom in relation to sickness and injury absence, and the procedures that should be followed by all parties.
Sections within this policy include:
Absence from work:
- How sickness absence will be managed (short-term, persistent and long-term).
- What sickness, injury and attendance records the company will keep.
- How employees should inform and record short-term absences from work.
- How employees should inform and record long-term sickness absence.
- What steps will be taken to mitigate sickness absence.
- Meetings, home visits and occupational health.
- Medical certificates, examinations and reports.
- Workplace adjustments.
- Return to work interviews.
Company property:
If your employee's are provided with property or equipment (such as a laptop or car) it shouldn't be overlooked during periods of sickness and injury absence.
It is essential for a sickness policy to include details of when, how and on what basis you as an employer may ask for items to be returned during sickness absence or request that property be reallocated during periods of sickness and injury absence.
This policy includes such a clause, enabling you to request the return of company property and equipment (without such a clause, a request to return items could be seen as penalising an employee's and against their contractual benefit entitlement).
The employment contract and payments:
- Annual leave entitlements during periods of sickness and injury absence.
- Company sick pay and statutory sick pay (SSP).
- Restrictions and conditions which result in unpaid absence or SSP non-payment.
- The legal basis upon which an employment contract can be terminated.
(To read more about our Employee Handbook click here)
