Guidance for employers

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.

This section contains information on:

• Reviewing your procedures
• The six elements involved in managing sickness absence and return to work

Key issues

• Sickness absence is not just a matter of ill-health. It is affected by a combination of the health condition, personal and work/organisational factors. The last two factors get more important the longer the absence.
• Early intervention is key. The sooner action is taken, the better the chances are of an employee making a full and speedy return to work.
• Work in a well-managed workplace is a treatment for people recovering from sickness absence and an early return to work improves both mental and physical recovery.
• Simple adjustments can enable workers to return to work safely before their symptoms completely disappear. Workers can normally return before they are 100% fit.