Top Tips for managing long term sickness absence
Long term sickness absence can have a serious impact on any business. As an employer, you can have the most effective absence management provisions in place, but some cases can drag on and on, costing the organisation time, effort and goodwill. Here are some top tips for managing long term sickness absence and bringing about resolutions:
Occupational Health referrals are a valuable tool.
An Occupational Health Service allows employers to gain independent advice about a condition in the light of the job role of the employee, which can then support management decisions, including whether there is a reasonable chance that the person could make a successful return to the workplace. For further information on why you should consider using an Occupational Health service see our blog on the topic.
Keep communicating! There is a myth that employees on sickness absence should be “left alone to recover”. This just means that discussions stop, the individual can feel forgotten about, and the situation stagnates. At the same time though, it’s important to communicate in a way that the individual is comfortable with. It might be more productive to hold meetings offsite on occasions: consider adjustments to keep the conversation going.
Remember the rest of the team. Having a persistent or long-term absentee can have a significant effect on the wider team’s workload, motivation and wellbeing. Whilst you can’t discuss the details of an individual’s situation with the rest of the team, ensuring the team know things are being dealt with appropriately, can help to reassure them about any changes to their circumstances.
You CAN dismiss someone who is signed off sick.
This statement does of course come with a caveat of “in certain circumstances and if you take certain actions first”. But the law does not expect an employer to allow sickness absence to continue for an unreasonably long period.
For advice and support in managing long term sickness absence, contact us to arrange a chat with one of our experts.
Pure Human Resources also offer an Absence Management Training course for further useful tools and advice.
