Long-term and Persistent Sickness Absence
One of the most common problems facing employers is how to deal with employee absence. These are often very sensitive situations and employers must be careful not to act in a way that might damage the relationship of trust and confidence between them and their employee.
It is important that employers realise that in the vast majority of these situations, regardless of the employer’s own opinion, in the eyes of the law the employee has not done anything wrong. Unacceptable sickness absence should NOT be dealt with as a disciplinary matter.
Another possible pitfall in this area is the potential for disability discrimination.
It is however possible to take action to deal with excessive absence, and we are of course on hand to help you do that. Employers might also consider the option of implementing absence management policies