Sickness absence is an issue all employers must deal with at some point. Excessive absences can cause significant issues throughout an organisation, and having an effective way to manage it is important.

My client operates several manufacturing sites and has become concerned about the absence levels within the organisation. They are worried about tackling this issue, as they have heard that some absences are ‘protected’, and want to ensure whatever actions taken are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory.  

All employers should have in place absence management procedures, and if the employer does not already, we would strongly encourage them to implement them. These procedures allow for monitoring of absence levels and management of excessive absences, and ensure a mechanism is in place to deal with any employees who require a reasonable adjustment at work.