Sickness Absence
With ill health costing the UK economy more than £100 billion each year in benefits, health expenditure, foregone taxes and lost productivity (according to Dame Carol Black, author of a key report “Working for a healthier tomorrow”) it is not surprising that more and more organisations are taking action to control these costs.
The effects of absenteeism include:
- Reduced productivity
- Increased work/stress/low morale for colleagues
- Unnecessary and costly recruitment
Most organisations aim to promote and maintain a healthy workforce, but there are times when a referral to a specialist occupational health practitioner is essential to support the management of sickness absenteeism or the identification of work-related health problems.
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The ‘management referral’ process is appropriate where, in the case of an employee’s sickness absence or deteriorating performance, and the need to comply with “The Equality Act”, you will need to know
- If there is an underlying medical condition
- Whether sickness absence is likely to improve
- When the employee is likely to be fit to return to work
- If there are any health and safety issues
- If there are any recommended work restrictions and their duration
- If a further review is recommended and by whom
- If so, what reasonable adjustments are required and for how long
- If the case is reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
Caer Health Services can help you reduce the number of days lost through ill health by implementing effective absence management programmes, these could include:
- Measuring and monitoring the reason for absence – types, frequency and trends
- Working with line managers to help manage staff on long term sickness leave
- Pro-active measures such as introducing health promotion and wellbeing activities for employees
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