Managing long-term sickness absence: the 2009 IRS survey

This IRS survey includes feedback from more than 170 employers about the ways in which they manage long-term sickness absences, the measures they have found prove most effective and the impact on their organisations of such extended periods of sick leave.

On this page:
How employers define long-term sickness absence
The impact of long-term sickness absences on employers
Employers' attitudes towards long-term absences
Rehabilitation success rates
Policies and procedures
Responsibility for managing long-term absences
Supporting line managers
Using a case management approach
Chart 1: Using case management to address long-term absences
Criteria for selective use of case management
How employers manage long-term absences
      Popular strategies
      Keeping in touch with absent staff
      Medical reports
      Referrals to healthcare practitioners
      Formulating plans for a return to work
      Reasonable adjustments and other changes
Employers' feedback on the most effective measures
      Effective measures based on rehabilitation rates
      Employers' hints and tips
Our research
Table 1: How employers keep in touch with employees on long-term absence
Table 2: Temporary changes offered to help employees get back to work
Table 3: Permanent changes offered to help returning employees stay in work
Table 4: The most effective ways of managing long-term absences
Box 1: Effectively managing long-term absences: employers' hints and tips
Additional resources.