Practical Steps to Manage Absence Risks

This article outlines practical steps to manage absence risks.

For most employers, a weekly or monthly occurrence will be issues arising out of the absence of employees. This will range from the one off, occasional absence to repeated or long term sickness absence. We have set out below some key points in dealing with absence.

Absence Management Policy

All employers should have, as a matter of course, an up to date Absence Management Policy, which should provide for:

• confirmation in respect of contact on the first day of sickness;
• the procedure for self-certification;
• the requirement for fit notes and what is expected of employees in this regard;
• any entitlement to enhanced sickness pay