Sickness absence and sick pay — LRD booklet

Against a background of recession and looming widespread job cuts many employers are tightening up their sickness absence procedures, while sick workers are increasingly reluctant to take time off for fear of being sacked or made redundant.

Sickness absence and sick pay — a guide for union reps is a fully updated guide for union representatives and workers to their current rights in relation to sickness absence and sick pay. It draws on examples from a survey carried out by LRD to establish up-to-date information and trends.

The rise of “presenteeism” (coming into work when ill) is examined in the booklet, along with the debate over public and private sector absence levels and the need to uncover the underlying causes of sickness absence, as well as absence management policies, changes introduced as a result of the new fit note and employees’ rights to sick pay.

The booklet also looks at special circumstances that regularly occur in relation to sickness absence, such as pregnancy sickness and sickness related to a disability, focusing in particular on the impact of the Equality Act 2010. It also contains information about changes to the law governing sickness absence and holidays.

Sickness absence and sick pay — a guide for union reps, £6.70 a copy, www.lrdpublications.org.uk/publications.php?pub=BK&iss=1535