Sickness absence and sick pay

New and updated

• Consultation on proposals to reduce ill-health-related job loss

  Type:

  Consultations

  The Government consults on proposals to support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to remain in work.

• How to deal with employees on long-term sickness absence

  Type:

  How to

  Updated to include additional information on the risks of dismissing employees who are entitled to receive payments under a permanent health insurance scheme.

• Letter confirming the outcome of a stage 3 short-term sickness absence meeting

  Type:

  Policies and documents

  Updated to highlight the EAT decision in Kelly v Royal Mail Group Ltd, in which a long-serving employee was dismissed for frequent and lengthy absences.

• Return-to-work meetings after short-term sickness absence

  Type:

  Line manager briefings

  A line manager briefing setting out the importance of return-to-work meetings in reducing short-term sickness absence levels and helping to ensure that employees are engaged, productive and working to the best of their ability. The briefing provides practical guidance for line managers on holding return-to-work meetings, as well as providing "Talking points" for training sessions.

• Absence rates and costs: 2019 XpertHR survey

  Date:

  23 May 2019

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  XpertHR's latest survey finds that sickness absence rates remain unchanged for 2019, but employers continue to underestimate the total cost of such absence to the business.

• Occupational sick pay: 2019 XpertHR survey

  Date:

  25 April 2019

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  XpertHR's research into occupational sick pay looks at the benefits on offer, including any service requirements, and the circumstances in which sick pay may be withheld.

• Webinar: Pregnancy sickness - managing absence issues successfully

  Date:

  25 April 2019

  Type:

  Podcasts and webinars

  Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at law firm Hogan Lovells, discusses the legal framework protecting pregnant employees and the health and safety considerations employers should be aware of.

• Webinar: Tricky sickness issues - your questions answered

  Date:

  28 March 2019

  Type:

  Podcasts and webinars

  Darren Newman discusses tricky sickness absence related issues, including the relationship between sickness absence and disability discrimination, and the steps you can take to support an employee's return to work.

• How to manage an employee who goes off sick during a performance improvement procedure

  Type:

  How to

  Practical guidance on managing an employee who goes on sickness absence while subject to a performance improvement plan (PIP), including dealing with short-term and long-term sickness absence; absence that is related to the performance management procedure; and when it may be appropriate to consider a settlement agreement.

• April 2019 employment law changes: Seven things for HR to do

  Date:

  18 March 2019

  Type:

  Commentary and analysis

  Every April, HR professionals are faced with a raft of amended employment laws and deadlines for their organisation to meet. Important issues in April 2019 include changes to the law on payslips and the usual increases to the national minimum wage, maternity pay and redundancy payments. Large employers should also be working on their second gender pay gap report and their latest modern slavery statement. Meanwhile, the impact of Brexit on EEA nationals continues to be a major issue.