make your free sickness policy
what we'll cover
what is a sickness policy?
a sickness policy outlines the policies and procedures an employer has in place to manage sickness-related absences and the procedures for employees returning to work after taking sick leave. sickness policies inform employees how they will be paid during sick leave and help them recognise their personal responsibility to achieve acceptable levels of attendance.
this document is gdpr compliant.
when should i use a sickness policy?
use this sickness policy:
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to deal effectively and fairly with absences caused by sickness
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to help managers understand how to deal with sickness absences correctly and lawfully
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only for employees based in england, wales or scotland
sample sickness policy
the terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
about sickness policies
learn more about making your sickness policy
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how to make a sickness policy
making a sickness policy online is simple. just answer a few questions and 2022世界杯32强抽签时间 will build your document for you. when you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
to make your sickness policy you will need the following information:
employer details
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what is the employer’s name?
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what is the name of the person employees should report sickness absences to?
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what is the name of the employer’s first aider?
enhanced sick pay
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does the business offer enhanced sick pay? if so:
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is there a minimum period of service with the business that’s required before the enhanced sick pay applies?
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for how many weeks are full salary and benefits paid during sickness absence in each year?
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common terms in a sickness policy
sickness policies are used to manage sickness absences from work. to do this, this sickness policy template covers:
statement and purpose of policy
this section explains why the sickness policy is important, what it covers and who it applies to. it also explains why personal data is collected and how it will be treated by the employer.
this section also highlights that the sickness policy is a statement of policy only and can, therefore, be amended by the employer as and when it is deemed necessary.
disabilities
this section encourages employees to contact a named individual if a condition affects their ability to do their job or if they are affected by a disability. it also highlights that the employer will consider such conditions or disabilities when carrying out sickness procedures.
reporting sickness absence
this section sets out how sickness absences should be reported. this includes:
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who should be contacted
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how much notice should be given (where possible)
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when a self-certification form is needed
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when a fit note is needed
sick pay
this section sets out what sick pay employees will receive for absences due to illness. it covers both statutory sick pay (ssp) and enhanced sick pay (where the employer offers this).
returning to work after sickness absence
this section sets out what steps should be followed when an employee returns to work after a sickness absence. it particularly highlights that, for any prolonged absences (ie absences of more than 5 days), a return-to-work interview should be conducted. the section explains why an interview is necessary.
sickness absence meetings procedure
this section sets out when a sickness absence meeting may be called (eg because of frequent absences due to sickness). it also provides details of the process for calling such a sickness absence meeting, including how much notice employees will be given, who can accompany them to the meeting and the consequences of not attending the meeting.
sickness absence meetings
this section provides details of the sickness absence meeting. specifically, it provides information on what the meeting is for and what consequences the meeting may have.
appeals
this section outlines an employee’s right to appeal against decisions made by the employer. this section provides details of the appeals process.
you can edit your document if you want your sickness policy to include further or more detailed provisions. however, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the sickness policy for you, to make sure it complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. ask a lawyer for assistance.
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legal tips for making a sickness policy
avoid discrimination
when making decisions (especially disciplinary decisions) related to sickness absences, you need to make sure you avoid discrimination. it can be hard to determine what constitutes discrimination (and what may constitute an objective justification for certain discriminatory actions). for more information on discrimination, read equal opportunities and discrimination, disability and reasonable adjustments and the ehrc’s employment statutory code of practice. you can also ask a lawyer for assistance.
consider offering enhanced sick pay
while you don’t have to offer enhanced sick pay to your employees, it is a good way to show your workforce that they are valued and to help retain talent. for employees, enhanced sick pay offers financial stability in the event of an illness as employees can take time off work without worrying about reducing their income. this may help improve their health and help them to return to work more quickly.
for employers, offering enhanced sick pay can help foster a positive working environment. enhanced sick pay can help to reduce turnover and increase employee satisfaction, leading to higher levels of engagement, productivity and loyalty.
understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
ask a lawyer if:
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this document doesn’t meet your needs
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you need advice on employees based outside england, wales and scotland
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an employee’s absence relates to a disability
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sickness policy faqs
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what is included in a sickness policy?
this sickness policy template covers:
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what the policy is intended to achieve
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how to report sickness absence
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fit for work assessments and return to work plans
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the sick pay an employee can expect to receive whilst absent
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returning to work after sickness
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the sickness absence meeting procedure
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why do i need a sickness policy?
although there is no legal requirement for an employer to have a sickness policy, it is highly recommended that employers should have a written procedure for managing sickness absences that employees and staff members can refer to. this helps to clarify from the outset the relevant expectations, roles, and process, so that everyone is clear about their obligations and what action they should be taking.
by providing a clear outline of how sickness-related absences should be reported, employers ensure that their workforce understands the rules around taking time off work due to illness. similarly, by using a policy to summarise sickness statutory rights and when employees will receive statutory sick pay (ssp), employers may gain the confidence of their workforce.
for more information, read managing sickness absence and sick pay.
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who should employees contact to report sickness absences?
it is usual for an employer's human resources (hr) department or employees’ line managers to handle sickness absences. however, it is also possible to use an external organisation to provide initial sickness absence management.
for more information, read managing sickness absence.
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what is the first aid requirement?
employers must provide a first-aid assistance at work. low-risk organisations such as small offices should, at the very least, have a first-aid box and a person appointed to take charge of first-aid arrangements. employers must provide information about first-aid arrangements to their employees. workplaces with more significant health and safety risks may need a trained first-aider and may need to carry out health and safety assessments.
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what is statutory sick pay?
statutory sick pay (ssp) is the minimum amount that employers must pay employees. it is set by the government. employees get ssp for the days they would have normally worked. employees must also satisfy certain statutory requirements to be eligible for ssp. for more information, read sick pay.
ssp rates change yearly. you can check the current rates for ssp on the government’s website.
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what are the eligibility requirements for ssp?
to qualify for ssp you must:
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be classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer
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have been ill for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days)
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earn at least £123 (before tax) per week (as of april 2023), and
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tell your employer you're sick before their specified deadline (or within 7 days if they don't have one)
ssp is only available for a maximum of 28 weeks and cannot be used in conjunction with statutory maternity pay.
for more information, read sick pay.
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what if an employee doesn't qualify for ssp?
if an employee doesn’t qualify for ssp, their employer will need to provide them with an ssp1 form. the employee can use this to apply for employment and support allowance. for more information, see the government’s guidance.
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how do i pay ssp?
ssp commences on the fourth consecutive day an employee is absent from work. this includes any days the employee doesn’t normally work (eg weekends). ssp is paid in the same way as normal wages (eg weekly or monthly) and tax and national insurance contributions will be deducted in the same way.
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what is enhanced sick pay?
enhanced sick pay, also known as ‘contractual sick pay’ or ‘occupational sick pay’, is an employer’s own sick pay scheme. enhanced sick pay goes above and beyond what is necessary under the law. for example, employers may pay enhanced sick pay at 100% of employees’ usual wages for a certain number of days (eg 10 days over one year).
for more information, read sick pay.
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how much is enhanced sick pay?
enhanced sick pay can be set at any limit on top of ssp, or you can provide full salary and benefits for a set period of time. contractual sick pay cannot be less than ssp. for more information, read sick pay.
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what are the eligibility requirements for enhanced sick pay?
as enhanced sick pay is not legally required, any additional eligibility requirements may be imposed at the employer's discretion. for example, you can set a minimum period of service with the business that’s required before employees can benefit from enhanced sick pay.
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should i offer enhanced sick pay?
although there is no need to offer enhanced sick pay, many employers consider enhanced sick pay a valuable part of their benefits package. it can help to attract and retain good employees and boost staff morale and loyalty.
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what is a return-to-work interview?
a return-to-work interview is an interview designed to welcome an employee back after a certain period of sickness. it checks that the employee is well enough to continue working. it is also used to find out the reason for the sickness absence and to see whether any changes need to be made.
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what is a fit note?
employees who have been absent for more than 7 consecutive days must give their employer a 'fit note'. this note is given by a healthcare professional (eg a doctor or nurse) and indicates whether an employee is 'not fit for work' or 'may be fit for work'. a fit note allows employers and employees to discuss any arrangements and changes that need to be made to accommodate the employee’s return to work.
for more information, read fit notes.
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what happens if an employee is persistently absent?
if an employee is persistently absent and the return-to-work interviews are not helping, it may be necessary to agree on trigger points with your employees. these trigger points should set out when repeated absences will lead to formal action. for more information, read managing sickness absence.
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can i dismiss someone who is persistently absent?
although you may want to dismiss an employee for repeated or extended sickness absences, you should be aware of the potential for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination (under the equality act 2010). this is especially important when an employee may be absent due to a disability-related issue. for more information, read managing sickness absence. due to the complexity of dismissing someone due to repeated or extended sickness absences, you should ask a lawyer before taking any steps.
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what should i do if an employee is off with a long-term illness?
handling long-term sickness absences requires a careful and sympathetic approach, especially if the illness is serious or related to mental health. you may need to add more provisions in your sickness policy to deal with long-term absences. ask a lawyer for more information.
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