We have a long-standing manager who, when subjected to a disciplinary due to performance issues, put in a four week sick line for work-related stress. He also lodged a grievance against his relatively new manager. How would you go about resolving this? 

It is important for employers in this kind of situation to treat the employee concerned as they would any other employee who is absent from work due to sickness. Any scheduled disciplinary meetings should also be cancelled in the interim and the employee should be advised of this. As a starting point, the employer should have regard to its sickness absence policy and any relevant provisions in the employee’s contract of employment to ensure compliance with these provisions. 

The employee should normally be referred to a company doctor or occupational health specialist, nominated and paid for by the employer, for an independent assessment of his medical condition.

The Company should