Sickness and Absence Management | Employer Guides
Practical guidance on managing employee sickness and absence. From short-term absence triggers to long-term sick leave and occupational health referrals.
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ERA 2025 Updated
Bolton, Manchester, North WestSickness absence costs North West SMEs thousands every year in lost productivity, cover costs and management time. These guides help you manage absence fairly, consistently and lawfully.
Choose Your Scenario
Select the scenario that matches your situation for step-by-step guidance tailored to UK employment law.
Managing Short-Term Absence
Setting triggers, return-to-work interviews and when to escalate.
Read Full Guide+ 3 more scenarios
Long-Term Sick Leave
How to manage employees on extended sick leave, including keeping in touch and occupational health.
Read GuideOccupational Health Referrals
When to refer, what to ask and how to use the report.
Read GuideFit Notes and GP Advice
Understanding fit notes, workplace adjustments and what to do when you disagree with the GP.
Read GuideWriting an Absence Policy
How to create a fair and effective absence management policy.
Read GuideDisability and Reasonable Adjustments
Your obligations under the Equality Act when absence is related to disability.
Read GuideMental Health Absence
Supporting employees with mental health conditions while managing absence fairly.
Read GuideSSP and Company Sick Pay
Statutory sick pay rules, company sick pay schemes and what changes under ERA 2025.
Read GuideManaging Absence: Consistency Is Everything
The key to fair absence management is consistency. Apply the same triggers, the same processes and the same support to every employee.
Inconsistent treatment is the fastest route to a discrimination or unfair dismissal claim. These guides help you build a framework that is fair, documented and defensible.
ERA 2025: What Changes for Sickness & Absence
SSP payable from day one of absence. The three-day waiting period is removed.
Unfair dismissal after 6 months means capability dismissals for absence carry more risk earlier.
DaisyHR helps North West employers manage absence fairly and reduce tribunal risk.
Read our full ERA 2025 guideFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, but only through a fair capability process with medical evidence, reasonable adjustments considered, and proper procedure followed.
When absence is prolonged, recurring, or you need medical guidance on fitness for work or reasonable adjustments.
From April 2026, SSP is payable from day one. The three-day waiting period is removed and more employees qualify.
Related Scenario Guides
Practical guidance for business leaders on every type of dismissal and employee exit. From fair dismissal procedures to gross misconduct, sick leave dismissal, probation, constructive dismissal and settlement agreements, written for North West employers and their teams.
Step-by-step employer guidance on running fair disciplinary and grievance processes. Written for North West SMEs.
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Absence management advice for employers across Bolton, Manchester and the wider North West. · Last reviewed: March 2026