Category: Sickness Absence

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Best practice for employers

Sickness Trends

Sickness absence is an inevitable consequence of the workforce; we all get sick from time to time and employers should have strategies in place …

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Best practice for employers

Monkeypox: What should employers be considering?

Monkey Pox: What should employers be considering? After the COVID19 Pandemic it seems the employment landscape is now facing a renewed threat as monkeypox cases rise across the UK. Although the risk of infection is considered low and a small number of infections reported overall in the UK …

HM Government poster of Covid advice reading "if you test positive for Covid you are advised to stay at home, but will no longer be required to self-isolate"
Best practice for employers

Requirement to self-isolate has been removed

As you will be aware the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive covid test has been removed from the 24th February 2021 however the guidance and messaging from the government is that you should still stay at home if you have a positive result! Where does this leave employers????

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Best practice for employers

Why should we obtain medical evidence if an employee has a medical condition?

Why should we obtain medical evidence if an employee has a medical condition? Problems can arise where an employee is off long term or has short persistent absence for the same reason. The reason for this is that the employee may have a disability under the Equality Act 2010..

Covid-19 vaccine bottles
Best practice for employers

Should an Employer Cut Sick Pay for Unvaccinated Staff?

You may have seen in the news recently that both Next and Ikea have reduced the amount of sick pay an unvaccinated employee will receive if they are required to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone with Covid-19. The news has been met with a certain amount of backlash..

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Employer Resources

Temporary Change to Fit Note Requirements for Sick Employees

As many employers will be aware an employee, who is off work due to sickness, can complete a self-certification form when they return to work provided, they have not been off work for more than 7 consecutive days, which includes non-working days and weekends.

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General HR Advice

Can an employee return to work before the end of a fit note?

As an employer you will have occasions when you will receive a fit note from an employee’s GP setting out that they are not fit for work for a period of time. But what happens if an employee wants to voluntarily return to work before the end of their fit note?