Fit Note Reform: Call for Evidence
Ahead of a full consultation, a call for evidence has been launched as part of a broader initiative to reform the fit note. Originally introduced in 2010 to replace the sick note, the fit note emphasised the benefits of returning to work and provided employers with essential information to support an earlier return to work. […]
Is there a sick note culture in the UK?
On Friday 19 April, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced intentions to tackle, what he believes, to be a sick note culture in the UK. But is this an accurate reflection? The reality of sickness absence It is a topic of debate reflecting attitudes towards the legitimacy of sickness absence, but it shouldn’t be […]
Why we are seeing an increasing need to support long term sickness
Here is the Hot Topic for March 2024 and an accompanying webinar will follow, which will be hosted on 14 March 2024. Last year, new data was published that provided startling statistics about sickness absence and the UK labour market for 2023. In this month’s Hot Topic, we are going to focus specifically on long […]
Record number of work days lost to long-term sickness
Long-term sickness levels continue to be a significant challenge for employers with recent statistics revealing concerning trends. In the period from October to December 2023, the number of economically inactive individuals aged 16-64 due to long-term sickness surged to a staggering 2.8 million. This data underscores the pressing need for proactive measures to address this […]
Dealing with unexpected absences
Unexpected absences can often present challenges for employers. Not only has there been significant disruption with major technical issues with the UK’s air traffic control systems, but Gatwick airport has been hit by further disruption in recent days due to staff shortages. This hasn’t only impacted holidaymakers returning to the UK, but those who need […]
Return to work interviews
Many organisations include return to work interviews as part of their absence management procedure, requiring employees to meet with their line manager on return from every sickness absence irrespective of the length of the absence. They are widely recognised as the most effective tool for managing absence. Not only are they effective at managing and […]
Return to work interviews – Why do them?
Do you have high levels of short-term absence? Do you struggle to maintain productivity due to staff shortages? In this article we explore why and how a return to work interview can become an effective business tool for reducing sickness absence. On Thursday 13th April from 10am – 11am, we will be exploring return to […]
Absences due to ill-health (long term)
There is no legal definition of ‘long-term’ absence so it is up to the employer to decide at what point such absences need to be formally reviewed. Often a trigger procedure that alerts you once an employee has been absent for an unbroken period is put in place, typically set at four, six or 13 […]
Absence Management: mental health questions and answers
Further to the recent webinar “Absence Management: How to manage mental health absences”, which you can now watch on demand, we had many questions raised. The following are our responses to those we could not answer live at the time. Where questions were of a similar nature, we have grouped these together and provided a […]
Absence Management: How to deal with mental health absences
It is reported that depression, which is just one form of mental ill health, is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. The Office for National Statistics reported that stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 54% of all working days lost due to ill health. Mental health can have a significant impact on an employee’s wellbeing at […]
Tips for supporting Mental Health at Work
The Mental Health Foundation says, “We all have so much going on in our lives, including competing strains and stresses . This can see kindness pushed to one side, in favour of what is urgent or trending now. .. but if we take the time to be kind to other people, we can reap the emotional dividends. It can really make a difference and especially for people who are vulnerable or struggling. ” Awareness of the scale […]
Absence Management Strategy: A Focus on Mental Health
Balancing both compliance with employment law, and effective absence management at work can be a minefield for managers. Absence and employee mental health With the number of reported mental health problems increasing year on year it’s vital for businesses to consider employee mental health in the same bracket as employee physical health. This includes removing […]
Managing long term sickness absence
Following a fair procedure when managing sickness absence When you are managing long-term sickness absence at what point do you have to make the decision that the employee is potentially unfit to return? You have to remember that if someone has been off sick for a long time they are deemed to be incapable to […]
Attendance bonuses: the positives and the pitfalls
Are you considering introducing attendance bonuses? The rationale behind incentives and bonuses is clear enough. It is a sound one. Any scheme introduced by an employer to motivate staff and encourage them to perform at a higher rate is a good thing. In theory, yes, but in practice, certain bonuses can lead the employer into […]
Seven out of 10 UK workers go to work even when sick
Workers in the UK believe their employers value the company’s performance ahead of the health and wellbeing of the workforce.Research has found that millions of employees still go to work despite being ill, with workers worrying about taking time off sick because of heavy workloads and employers’ expectations. The survey by insurance company, Aviva, […]
Employee health and wellbeing: managing absence and lateness
Let’s discuss employee health and wellbeing in relation to absence as well as lateness. What are the effects that absence and lateness can have on your business, and what are the most effective ways to manage them? Absent and constantly late employees don’t just affect your organisation’s productivity; they can also have a negative impact […]
UK Workers Not Taking Full Holiday Allowance
More than half of workers in the UK are not taking their full holiday allowance, according to research by Reed. 54% of employees are leaving an average of three days of holiday a year unused. Nearly half of the respondents (45%) said that they had previously cancelled a holiday for work reasons, whilst 24% said […]
True Cost of Presenteeism Revealed
Sickness absence and illness costs a month of productivity per employee, research has revealed. This is at an estimated cost of £57 billion a year to UK businesses. Workplace health initiative Britain’s Healthiest Company (BHC) surveyed more than 32,500 employees for the research. The aim of the study was to examine the true impact of […]
