MANAGING ABSENCE EFFECTIVELY IN 2010

Our latest series of 90-minute briefings have been designed to help you manage absence under the changing legal regime.

While sickness absence is an inevitable part of working life, it’s costly in terms of lost production, lost wages, and the strain it places on others to pick up the shortfall. The law and guidance to the medical profession on dealing with sickness absence are both set to change this spring; ‘Sick’ notes will be replaced with ‘Fit’ notes and new guidelines for occupational health doctors will require them to seek individuals’ consent before reporting to employers.

Employers are often wary of taking action too quickly over repeat offenders, and a culture develops in which some staff feel they have a right to call in sick for a day or two every so often. Before the employer gears up to make medical inquiries, the employee is back at work, and has self-certificated the absence as due a tummy bug, a nasty cold, a migraine or something similar.

Long-term absence occurs less often and is nearly always genuine. The key issues include how long it is reasonable to wait for an employee to recover, what medical inquiries can be legitimately made, consideration of whether the employee is disabled, and what steps, if any, should be taken ease the employee’s return to work.

The key to managing sickness absence is process. A good process will include clear reporting requirements, provision for medical inquiries to be made at any time, depending on the circumstances, return to work interviews, clear trigger points at which further investigation will be commenced, and engagement with occupational health where appropriate.

Our latest series of 90-minute seminars has been designed to give employers a clear set of guidelines on how to deal with sickness absence. We’ll explain the new legal position, show you what to do, what to avoid, and provide a full set of notes and sample letters to help guide you through the medical maze.

A light breakfast will be available 30 minutes prior to the seminar time detailed below:

This is what some previous attendees said:

“A great session, very clear and easy to understand”

“A 90 minute short sharp input was very welcome “

“The scenarios were really excellent”

“Employment Law can be a ‘dry’ subject but this morning brought it to life”

“Very much liked the fact that it was practical rather than just theory”

HOW TO BOOK:

Places cost £20 each, inclusive of VAT. This includes all handouts and catering costs. Please email your booking to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or telephone 0333 456 0246. Please give details of the session you wish to book on, the names of the attendees, and a contact telephone number. We hope you will be able to join us.