Skip to content
Work Health Lab
Menu

Absence management

Manage the absence, then work out what needs to happen next.

A good process records absence, keeps contact clear, reviews patterns fairly and supports a workable return.

See the process See sickness absence data

A practical process

Use one clear process, then adapt it to the person.

Acas recommends clear absence policies and a consistent process, while still considering individual circumstances.

  1. 01PolicyMake reporting, contact, pay and return expectations clear.
  2. 02RecordTrack frequency, duration and reason well enough to spot patterns.
  3. 03Keep in touchAgree useful contact while someone is off.
  4. 04ReviewLook at cause, support and any work-related factors.
  5. 05Plan the returnDiscuss readiness, support, adjustments and any phased return.
  6. 06Follow upCheck whether the plan is working and change it where needed.

Review points

A trigger should start a review, not automatic punishment.

Acas says review points can help manage absence, but they should be flexible and sensitive to individual circumstances.

Use the review to ask

What is behind the absence?

  • Is there a health or disability issue that needs support?
  • Could work itself be contributing?
  • Would occupational health add useful information?
  • Could reasonable adjustments help?
  • Is a different return plan needed?

Avoid

Treating the number as the whole decision.

  • Automatic disciplinary action from a trigger alone
  • Ignoring disability-related absence
  • Using the same response for long-term and repeated short-term absence
  • Measuring absence without looking at what happens next

Return to work

Use the return meeting to turn information into a plan.

Acas says a return-to-work meeting is a good time to check whether the person is ready, discuss support and agree a plan where needed.

Phased return to workWork out how hours, duties and workload can build back up. Reasonable adjustmentsStart with the barrier and look at what could change at work. Free phased-return plannerBuild a simple weekly-hours schedule. Sickness absence dataSee source-backed local measures and recent changes. Occupational healthUse a focused referral when work-health advice needs specialist input.

Data

Use absence data to find a problem, not to diagnose the answer.

Acas says recording sickness absence can help employers compare levels, find patterns and decide what to look at next. Different absence patterns may need different responses.

Work Health Lab keeps the guidance page separate from the statistics page because the search job is different: one helps you manage absence; the other helps you inspect the data.

Explore sickness absence data

Sources

Acas: managing absence and returning to work

Acas: absence trigger points

Acas: recording sickness absence

Acas: creating absence policies