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This week's letters
Absentees will not co-operate
The Information Commission's Records Management Code will damage absence management (News, 10 September).
Although around 90 per cent of employees will gladly give permission for their employer to keep sickness data, the 10 per cent displaying unacceptable levels of absence will not. It is this 10 per cent that we need to continue to monitor and control.
It will be an admin burden for HR that would fail to address the problem in the end. Levels of absence will duly increase.
Andrea McPherson
Personnel officer, Amer Sports UK
Hands tied over sick level cuts
I would be interested in the Information Commission's advice on how we can monitor absence while avoiding coming into conflict with disability discrimination laws?
We will certainly have to request far more medical reports than are presently necessary.
Also, being able to monitor sickness specifically by type is a useful way to study health problems in any particular area, such as flu viruses. Does the Information Commission suggest we ignore the potential risk to other employees?
I am convinced that without the ability to monitor sickness, it would certainly prove more difficult for employers to be proactive in reducing sickness levels.
Jan Caulfield
Personnel officer, Billericay Dental Supply
Proposals a path to schizophrenia
What a nonsense on sick pay absence. Normally, like most in the profession, one stoically adapts to such changes without comment.
As far as I understand it we are not only allowed to keep detailed records of sickness for Statutory Sick Pay purposes, but are also required to by law, as evidence that we comply with SSP-related legislation.
Does this mean that HR doesn't get access to these from the payroll department without the express permission of the individual? I'll have to remind myself in future because I manage both functions.
Mike Sveikutis
Personnel officer, Selectus
Staff gifts can be a real turkey
A poorly selected gift for employees can cause long-term staff demotivation (Guru, 10 September).
Lady Archer's former PA, Jane Williams, has taken her to employment tribunal for alleged unfair dismissal.
Williams claimed that Archer presented her with an inch of
