Managing sickness absence & return to work

Everyone at work will probably need to take sick leave at some point during their working lives and in most cases this lasts only a few days. But long-term sickness absence can have devastating effects on the performance of your business and the health and well-being of your employees.

The statistics are clear, sickness absence costs:

• UK Plc over £12 billion a year;
• Employers £495 a year in direct costs for every worker employed. Indirect costs are probably considerably more (CBI 2005 statistics)

But this need not be the case

Considerable benefits can de delivered from working in partnership with your employees and their Trade Union representatives when you manage sickness absence and return to work. In particular:

• Improved business performance;
• Retention of valued staff;
• Safe and healthy workplaces;
• Better workplace relations.

There is help and advice available

This website outlines an approach to help employers and managers to manage sickness absence and return to work. It will guide you through six elements, which constitute good practice in managing sickness absence and return to work, give guidance on legal issues and list further sources of help and advice.