LRD guides and handbook March 2022

Sickness absence and sick pay - a guide for trade unions and working people

Introduction

Introduction [page 3] (450 words)

It is natural for anyone with a job to be unable to work at one time or another for health-related reasons. Being absent from work is always a worry, ...
Open access

Chapter 1

1. Covid-19 and its impact [ch 1: page 4] (252 words)

All aspects of sickness absence policy came under the microscope during the pandemic. What changed? And which of those changes might help in ...
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Long Covid [ch 1: page 4] (169 words)

Pandemic revealed scope for change [ch 1: page 5] (161 words)

Temporary changes [ch 1: pages 5-6] (351 words)

Employer adaptations [ch 1: page 6] (115 words)

Chapter 2

2. Understanding sickness absence [ch 2: page 7] (200 words)

Negotiations and policy updates may focus on statistics or evidence of “excessive sickness absence” or “days lost” (lost to the employer). ...
Subscribers only

Evidence on sickness absence [ch 2: pages 7-8] (414 words)

Absence under Covid-19 [ch 2: pages 8-9] (294 words)

Workforce sickness patterns [ch 2: pages 9-10] (541 words)

Specific health problems [ch 2: page 10] (185 words)

Caring responsibilities [ch 2: page 11] (76 words)

Violence and personal safety [ch 2: page 11] (57 words)

Domestic and partner abuse [ch 2: page 11] (122 words)

Chapter 3

3. Protecting incomes [ch 3: page 12] (75 words)

Workers will not feel secure in coping with sickness absence or disability if it results in a significant loss of income. Income protection during ...
Subscribers only

Statutory sick pay [ch 3: pages 12-13] (757 words)

Eligibility for SSP [ch 3: pages 13-14] (447 words)

Disputes over SSP [ch 3: pages 14-15] (126 words)

Occupational Sick Pay [ch 3: pages 15-16] (579 words)

Sick pay checklist [ch 3: pages 16-17] (332 words)

Improving Occupational Sick Pay [ch 3: pages 17-20] (1,076 words)

Extended occupational sick pay [ch 3: page 20] (254 words)

Infectious diseases [ch 3: page 20] (79 words)

Time off for medical appointments [ch 3: page 21] (85 words)

Disability leave [ch 3: page 21] (172 words)

Dependants and family emergencies [ch 3: pages 21-22] (189 words)

Other paid leave [ch 3: pages 22-23] (792 words)

Holidays, sickness absence and “leavism” [ch 3: pages 23-25] (771 words)

Contractual leave and sickness absence [ch 3: page 25] (94 words)

Employment and Support Allowance [ch 3: pages 25-26] (238 words)

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit [ch 3: page 26] (96 words)

Chapter 4

4. Managing absence [ch 4: page 27] (109 words)

The statistics in Chapter 2 show just how diverse the factors are behind both short-term and longer-term sickness absence. Procedures for managing ...
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General duties [ch 4: page 27] (143 words)

Formal policy [ch 4: pages 27-30] (834 words)

Absence policy checklist [ch 4: page 30] (176 words)

Short and long-term absence [ch 4: pages 30-31] (231 words)

Managers and sickness absence [ch 4: page 31] (176 words)

Employee responsibilities [ch 4: page 31] (70 words)

Notifying the employer about sickness absence [ch 4: pages 31-33] (659 words)

Self-certification [ch 4: page 33] (74 words)

Fit Note [ch 4: pages 33-34] (586 words)

Managing long Covid [ch 4: pages 34-35] (386 words)

Keeping in touch [ch 4: pages 35-36] (314 words)

Returning to work [ch 4: pages 36-37] (574 words)

Prolonged absence [ch 4: pages 37-38] (335 words)

Trigger points [ch 4: pages 38-40] (663 words)

Procedures checklist [ch 4: pages 40-41] (519 words)

Terminal illness [ch 4: page 42] (278 words)

Collecting information on sickness absence [ch 4: pages 42-46] (1,323 words)

Occupational Health [ch 4: page 46] (214 words)

Investigating absence [ch 4: pages 46-47] (286 words)

Surveillance [ch 4: page 47] (261 words)

Disciplinary proceedings [ch 4: pages 47-49] (629 words)

Capability [ch 4: page 49] (381 words)

Penalties that stop short of dismissal [ch 4: page 50] (242 words)

Capability and dismissal checklist [ch 4: page 50] (116 words)

Frustration of contract [ch 4: page 51] (137 words)

Selection for redundancy [ch 4: page 51] (96 words)

Appeal [ch 4: page 51] (95 words)

Unfair dismissal [ch 4: pages 51-52] (187 words)

Constructive dismissal [ch 4: page 52] (336 words)

Collective response [ch 4: page 53] (226 words)

Chapter 5

5. Equality and sickness absence [ch 5: pages 54-55] (492 words)

Employers must avoid discrimination when they are managing sickness absence, mindful of “protected characteristics” within their workforce. Long ...
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Age and sickness absence [ch 5: page 55] (197 words)

Disability and sickness absence [ch 5: pages 56-57] (699 words)

Deemed disabilities [ch 5: pages 57-58] (217 words)

Reasonable adjustments [ch 5: pages 58-61] (1,703 words)

Disability discrimination [ch 5: pages 62-63] (779 words)

Further information

Further information [page 64] (103 words)

* Statutory Sick Pay: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay ...
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