Sickness Absence

Page updated: 02/09/2026

Welcome to your guide to attendance management, which we have separated into helpful sections, so that you can easily access the information you need.

Line managers must ensure that all employees are aware of the procedure for notifying and certifying sickness absence in their departments.

We recommend that you read the following policy:

Sickness Absence Policy - June 2025

Recording Absence

Managers are responsible for ensuring that all sickness absence is accurately recorded in a timely manner by inputting the sickness absence information on My View.

Recording Absence

The Stages of Sickness Absence

The procedure and process for managing short- term, usually intermittent absences and long-term absence will be the same.

The Stages of Sickness Absence

Return to Work Interviews

A return to work interview (RTWI) must be conducted by the line manager when a member of staff returns from a period of absence and recorded on the Return to Work Interview Form.

Return to Work Interviews

Phased Return to Work

The purpose of a phased return to work is to rehabilitate the employee to their full duties and gradually build back up to undertaking their normal working hours.

Phased Return to Work

Attendance Management Meetings

Guidance for the attendance management process

Attendance Management Meetings

Occupational Health

Occupational Health (OH) provides support and advice for the health of staff and healthy working conditions.

Occupational Health

Case Conferences

A case conference is used in the most complex cases but is simply a meeting to provide further medical clarification on recommendations outlined in the Occupational Health report. Find out more here.

Case Conferences

Reasonable Adjustments (Disability)

Reasonable adjustments aims to make sure that, as far as is reasonable, a disabled worker has the same access to everything that is involved in doing and keeping a job as a non-disabled person.

Reasonable Adjustments (Disability)

Ill Health Retirement

Employees who are dismissed on ill health grounds can be referred to the (IRMP), to consider whether or not their pension benefits can be awarded immediately.

Ill Health Retirement

Related Absence

We are committed to improving the work life balance of employees. We recognise that there are times when short or long term periods of time off are necessary outside of the annual leave entitlement.

Related Absence

Sickness and Annual Leave

An employee, who falls sick while on holiday, must inform their line manager immediately in order for this time to be regarded as sick leave.

Sickness & annual leave

Occupational Sick Pay

Find out more about our Occupational Sick Pay Scheme which maintains your normal pay during periods of sickness absence, dependent upon the duration of absence and your length of service.

Occupational Sick Pay

Managing respiratory tract infections including Covid

All respiratory tract infections including Covid-19 should be managed in line with our normal Sickness Absence and Time Off procedures for further information.

Managing respiratory tract infections including Covid