Health and Safety Executive

Getting started

The guidance contained here was first published in 2004 and therefore makes no reference to the Fit Note. The majority of the guidance contained herein remains relevant, although readers will need to keep in mind the existence of the Fit Note in applying any potential recommendations.

Putting in place policies and procedures to manage sickness absence and return to work need no be difficult - there is already an established body of good practice that you can build upon. You may already have some elements of a policy in place but is worth reviewing them for their effectiveness. In particular, you might need to take a fresh look at how you:

  • Work with your employees and their Trade Union representatives in developing policies and procedures;
  • Train your line managers in managing sickness absence and return to work;
  • Record, monitor and measure sickness absence and how you use that data at an organisational level;
  • Keep in contact with absent employees and plan with them for their return to work;
  • Access professional or other advice and treatment to help your employees;
  • Control any risks to employees from work activities, especially those with continuing poor health;
  • Put in place reasonable adjustments to enable disabled workers to continue to work.

Open and constructive discussion between all parties is essential for successful management of sickness absence and return to work. Though you are not legally required to provide a return to work policy, it is often convenient to set down expectations, roles and procedures so that everyone is clear about who is responsible for taking action and what they should be doing.

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Updated 10.01.12