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Sickness Absence

Policies & Procedures Uploaded on June 24, 2020
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PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL

SICKNESS ABSENCE POLICY

 

  1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the operational efficiency of the organisation can be maintained whilst employees are absent from work for sickness or injury related reasons.  It also seeks to provide guidance, security and support to employees during periods of ill-health.

 

  1. PROCEDURE

Employees who are unable to attend work through sickness, accident or personal circumstances must notify their line manager of the reason for their absence within one hour of contracted start time, on the first morning. If your line manager is not in the office, you should make every effort to speak to someone who can be briefed on your workload and any urgent matters that may require attention. If possible, you should give an indication of how long you expect to be absent so that arrangements can be made for cover if required.

 

If the absence is for a period of less than 7 days, employees should complete a self-certification form on their return to work. For periods over 7 days a medical certificate is required.  This will be in the form of a doctor’s “fit note’.

In addition to declaring that someone is unfit for work, a GP is now able to declare that a patient is:

  1. Fit for some work, or
  2. Fit for work taking account of changes that can be made to an employee’s role or

workplace to facilitate a return to work.

If an employee is given a Fit Note which advises changes or adjustments to an

employee’s role or workplace, these may include;

  • a phased return to work;
  • altered hours;
  • amended duties; or
  • workplace adaptations.

 

 

It is the responsibility of each employee to keep their line manager advised of the circumstances that are preventing them from attending work, of their likely return date, action being taken to mitigate the effect of the illness (e.g. GP visit) and contact details in case of work-related queries.

 

Employees who are absent from work due to reasons other than sickness/accident are required, wherever possible, to obtain prior permission from their line manager. Policies relating to Special Leave and Parental Leave may be applicable in these cases. The Council will consider each case of absenteeism on its merits and written evidence may be required. Where the incapacity to work arises from a voluntary action by the employee e.g. cosmetic surgery or organ donation, then sickness absence leave and pay will be entirely at the management’s discretion and employees are strongly advised to discuss such circumstances, in confidence, with their line manager in advance of such a procedure.  Where absenteeism appears unreasonable or unwarranted, employees may be liable for disciplinary action for misconduct.

 

 

You should expect a “return to work” meeting with your line manager on your first day in the office after 5 consecutive days off, this will be to ensure that you are fit to work and to update you on developments in the department and your workload.

 

  1. SICKNESS PAY

When absent from duty owing to illness (which term is deemed to include injury or other disability) you will be entitled to receive an allowance in accordance with the following scale:

 

during 1st year of service               one-month full pay and (after completing 4                                                                                 months service) 2 months half pay

 

during 2nd year of service              2 months full pay and 2 months half pay.

 

during 3rd year of service               4 months full pay and 4 months half pay.

 

during 4th & 5th year of service     5 months full pay and 5 months half pay.

 

after 5 years’ service                                    6 months full pay and 6 months half pay

 

N.B. For the purposes of calculating “half” pay, the basic salary will be used.

 

  1. LONG TERM OR FREQUENT SHORT-TERM ABSENCE PROCEDURE

This procedure is designed to outline the process where an employee is absent due to sickness on a long-term or frequent short-term basis. The discussions and investigations will review the employee’s capability or capacity to undertake the work. The aim is to ensure fair treatment for all.

 

The procedure is non-contractual and does not form part of the terms and conditions of employment with PWTC. The procedure may be amended from time to time.

 

4.1 PRINCIPLES

 

  1. Sickness absence issues will be dealt with sympathetically and sensitively, whilst also recognising the requirements of the Council and the impact of the absence on others.
  2. The line manager will maintain periodic contact during the period of sickness absence.
  3. A full review, normally including medical reports, will be undertaken in each case, as appropriate.
  4. All periods of sickness absence (after the first seven days self-certification period) must be certificated by a medical practitioner (“fit note”) and in some cases the employer may request certification for periods of absence of less than 7 days, in which case it will pay the appropriate fee to the medical practitioner issuing the certificate.
  5. The employee will be consulted at each stage of the procedure, in order that the situation can be reviewed in full.
  6. The employee will be advised if their employment may be at risk.
  7. Throughout the procedure, discussions should take place on any reasonable adjustments that might be considered, to enable the employee to return to work.
  8. Where possible, appropriate assistance will be provided to help the employee to return to work.
  9. In cases of long-term ill health, PWTC will, where possible, hold employment open for up to one year and in some cases, for longer.
  10. In all cases before taking a decision to terminate an employee’s contract on grounds of ill health, managers will consider:

 

  • any representations from the employee, including additional medical information
  • the employee’s length of service
  • the employee’s most recent health situation and the likelihood of an improvement in attendance
  • whether it is possible to hold the job open for longer and the effect of past and future absences on the Council
  • the availability of suitable alternative work or working hours
  • any other reasonable adjustments which could be reasonably expected to facilitate the return
  • the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on the case, and whether this may have a bearing on the actions to be taken.

 

  1. The employee will be informed of the right of appeal against any decision taken to terminate his or her contract of employment.
  2. At all formal stages of the procedure, a colleague or trade union representative may accompany the employee.
  3. Where it is clear early on that the employee will not be well enough to return to work, and after consultation with the employee, the employee’s contract may be terminated prior to stage 3 of the procedure, but not before the employee’s sick pay has expired.
  4. Where there is reason to believe that the employee is absent due to misconduct rather than genuine sickness, the matter will be dealt with as a disciplinary matter under the Disciplinary Procedure.

 

4.2 INFORMAL MEETING

 

Absence levels will generally start to be of concern to managers at the following trigger points:

  • 3 absences in a 12-week period
  • 10 days intermittent absence over the past 12 months

 

Where this is the case, managers will normally discuss absence levels with the employee. The aim will be to encourage the employee to understand the manager’s concerns and to agree ways, if possible, of improving the situation.  If the employee has been off sick continuously, or if there appears to be an underlying health problem, the Council will arrange for a GP’s report (or a report from another medical specialist as appropriate). The employee’s written permission must be given before the medical practitioner is approached.

 

4.3 THE PROCEDURE


4.3.1 STAGE ONE – first formal meeting

A first formal meeting will be arranged where:

  • In the case of long-term sickness absence, there is no clear date of return.
  • In the case of frequent short-term sickness absence, there has been no improvement in the weeks subsequent to the informal meeting.

 

The line manager will notify the employee in writing of the meeting to discuss the employee’s sickness absence. The employee will be advised of the concerns and that this is the first formal stage of the procedure. He or she will be advised of the right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative and will be given the opportunity to state his or her point of view.

 

Medical reports may normally be reviewed to assess whether there is any underlying health problem, and if so, what this is. Alternatively, permission to access medical records may be sought at this meeting.

 

There will be a discussion on ways to assist the employee to return to work, hours to be agreed as appropriate.

 

Unless there is a clear date for return (e.g. in the case of a broken limb), the manager should advise the employee that employment cannot be held open indefinitely. He or she should state that there would normally be two further meetings, after which the employee’s contract subject to medical reports may need to be terminated on grounds of capability.

 

The issues discussed at the meeting will be recorded and a date set for a second formal meeting.

 

4.3.2 STAGE TWO – second formal meeting

The employee will be informed by the Clerk in advance of the meeting in writing and advised that they may be accompanied to the meeting by, for example a colleague or trade union representative.  At the meeting the employee’s absence will be reviewed. Medical reports will be reviewed again where appropriate. An up-to-date medical report will normally be sought prior to the second formal meeting; the report will be discussed at the meeting.

 

If at the second formal meeting, the employee’s absence is still a cause for concern; the manager should advise the employee that there will be one further meeting, after which the employee’s contract may need to be terminated on grounds of capability, subject to medical reports.

 

The issues discussed at the meeting will be recorded and a date set for a third formal meeting.

 

4.3.3 STAGE THREE – third formal meeting

The employee will be informed of the meeting, by the Clerk, in writing and advised of his/her right to be accompanied by for example colleague or trade union representative. The Chairman of the Personnel Committee will hold the meeting. A letter will advise the employee that it is possible that termination of employment on the grounds of ill health may be an outcome of the meeting, but that the employee will have the opportunity to state his/her point of view, which will be fully considered.

 

Medical information should again be reviewed at this meeting. The employee’s potential return to work should be discussed again. An up-to-date medical report will be sought prior to the third formal meeting and the employee should be asked for his or her views. The report will be discussed at the meeting.  Where there is any lack of clarity, or a dispute on the medical information, a second, independent medical report may be sought.

 

If absence levels have not reduced at this stage and if the hearing manager believes, on an assessment of medical information and after discussion with the employee, that there is no likelihood of improvement in the foreseeable future, the employee’s contract will be terminated on the grounds of capability. Before taking this step, the manager must consider again, and discuss with the employee, whether any reasonable adjustments might be made, to enable the employee to return to work.

 

If a decision to terminate employment is taken, the employee will be provided, soon afterwards, with a letter outlining the reasons for the termination of his/her contract, the date on which the contract will terminate, and details of the right of appeal.  In the event of an appeal, termination will be suspended until the outcome of the appeal hearing is known.

4.3.4 APPEAL

 

If the employee wishes to appeal against the decision to terminate employment, he/she should write to the Chairman of the Council, giving reasons for the appeal. This appeal must be made within ten working days of the date of the letter confirming termination of employment. The employee will have the right to be accompanied to the hearing by, for example, a colleague or trade union representative, which will be held without unreasonable delay. The employee will be given the opportunity to state his or her point of view at the meeting. The Council’s decision will be final.

 

This Policy will be monitored and reviewed by the Policy, Procedures and Protocol Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed April 2021