Get your Free Sickness & Staff Absence Policy Template
Staff absence policy
Most sickness is genuine. Unplanned absence might be caused by family commitments or stress and these situations, being unexpected, can be difficult to manage. A clear policy helps avoid conflict and relieve uncertainty during those unsettling periods of time.
How to use the template
Once you have downloaded the template you’ll need to have a good read through and fill in any blanks.
It’s important that you check through the template carefully to make sure it aligns with your existing policies, procedures and contracts of employment.
Please do make sure that you're complying with relevant employment law and if in any doubt seek help from an employment law specialist.
What’s included?
This policy covers sickness, where your employees might have medical issues that prevent them from working. Typically they would self certify or get a doctor's note if the illness lasts more than seven days.
It also covers situations where they feel unable to come to work if for example they're unhappy, lack motivation, or because of family or caring responsibilities.
This policy is inline with the ACAS Sample Staff Absence Policy - published in their booklet"Managing Attendance and Employee Turnover"
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The policy wording
Staff absence policy
We care about the health, wellbeing and attendance of everyone who works for us.
Everyone’s contribution helps towards the company’s success. So when someone can’t work for any reason, we miss that contribution. This absence policy explains:
- what we expect from managers and employees when handling absence
- how we’ll work to reduce levels of absence.
This policy is in line with ACAS guidelines. We welcome any ideas that may help improve it.
- We don’t want anyone to struggle financially because they’re unable to work through illness.
- We want to have a happy and healthy workforce.
- Regular, punctual attendance is important.
- We’ll support those who have genuine grounds for absence. This support includes:
- ‘special leave’ for necessary absences not caused by sickness
- a flexible approach to taking annual leave
- access to counsellors where necessary
- rehabilitation support in cases of long-term sickness.
- We’ll take into account any advice given by a doctor on a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’.
- If needed, we’ll bring in an occupational health adviser to help find the best way to improve someone’s health and wellbeing.
- We’ll use the disciplinary procedures when someone can’t explain their absence or we don’t think the reason is satisfactory.
- There’s a lot of sensitive information regarding sickness. Everything we do will be in line with data protection legislation and the Access to Medical Records Act 1988.
If you can’t work, let your manager know as soon as possible, ideally within [specify time period e.g. one hour] of your start time. You’ll need to give them:
- an indication of your illness, and
- a likely return date.
Your manager will check whether there’s any information they need to cover your work while you’re off.
If you haven’t contacted your manager within [specify time period e.g. one hour] of your start time, we’ll try to contact you.
If you don’t feel you can discuss medical problems with your manager, please speak to someone you feel comfortable with.
[If you use Timetastic]
We use Timetastic to keep track of all time off work, and we’ll give you the login details you need. Sick leave is recorded in Timetastic like any other absence. The summary shows you how much you’ve taken each year.
[If you don’t use Timetastic]
Describe your system for keeping a record sick leave here.
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Set it up for your team before the next request lands.