Free online absence management toolkit for line managers

In 2006 the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), working with HSE and Acas, launched a free online toolkit to help managers with absence management.

Who is the toolkit for?

It is aimed principally at line managers working in small and medium sized enterprises, but is also of interest to those working in larger organisations

Why is this important?

Research shows that where line managers have training in absence management, there is a decrease in sickness absence rates. However, many small and medium sized enterprises provide very little or no training to line managers and therefore fail to get the benefits of effective absence management.

What does the toolkit do?

This toolkit provides a wealth of information on absence management practices and procedures that line managers can pick and choose information from. It is split into four parts to help managers:

• Identify an absence problem
• Develop an absence strategy
• Deal with short-term absence
• Deal with long-term absence

Fit Note

The toolkit was first published in 2006 and therefore makes no reference to the Fit Note.  We would ask users of this toolkit to keep in mind the existence of the Fit Note in applying any potential recommendations.