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Sickness absence

Managing sickness absence is a key issue for employers. Employee absence is a significant cost to the majority of businesses in the UK.

In addition to the direct costs of employee absence (paying sick pay and paying someone else to perform the absent employee’s work), high levels of absence can demotivate those employees who have to take on the absent employee’s work, cause all-round disruption to productivity and adversely affect an employer’s continuity of service to its clients.


    • Absence
    • IR35
    • Enhanced pay

    Top 10 HR questions October 2022: disciplinary witness statements

    by Brightmine 1 Nov 2022
    by Brightmine 1 Nov 2022

    Last month's most popular FAQs include questions on witness statements, bank holidays and sickness absence.

    • Coronavirus
    • Testing
    • Vaccinations

    As Covid cases rise again, what can HR do?

    by Jo Faragher 14 Oct 2022
    by Jo Faragher 14 Oct 2022

    An independent public inquiry into how the government handled the coronavirus pandemic began last week, led by Baroness Hallett, a...

    • Coronavirus
    • Long Covid
    • Latest News

    One in four employers facing long Covid absence issues

    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Oct 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Oct 2022

    A quarter of employers are facing long Covid absence issues, as the number of people testing positive for the virus...

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Eyecare

    Top 10 HR questions September 2022: additional bank holidays

    by Brightmine 1 Oct 2022
    by Brightmine 1 Oct 2022

    Last month's most popular HR questions focused on the impact of an extra bank holiday for the Queen's state funeral.

    • General Data Protection Regulation
    • Data protection
    • Latest News

    Women’s health, the workplace and ‘big data’ – what’s the connection?

    by Alison Sneddon and Deborah Margolis 19 Aug 2022
    by Alison Sneddon and Deborah Margolis 19 Aug 2022

    The use of women's health apps raises privacy issues that need addressing by employers.

    • Long Covid
    • Sickness absence
    • Occupational Health

    Long Covid develops in one in eight of those infected

    by Rob Moss 5 Aug 2022
    by Rob Moss 5 Aug 2022

    Dutch research finds 12.7% of people with coronavirus go on to have long Covid symptoms as ONS analysis says 2.8% of people are suffering.

    • Fit notes
    • Criminal records
    • Discipline

    Top 10 HR questions July 2022: heatwaves and fit notes

    by Brightmine 1 Aug 2022
    by Brightmine 1 Aug 2022

    When is it too hot to work? The heatwave has led employers to check their health and safety responsibilities around high temperatures.

    • Absence
    • Coronavirus
    • Long Covid

    More than 100,000 employees absent with long Covid

    by Jo Faragher 27 Jul 2022
    by Jo Faragher 27 Jul 2022

    More than 100,000 people are missing work because they suffer from long Covid, according to the think tank Institute for...

    • Absence
    • Coronavirus
    • NHS

    NHS to end full pay for Covid-19 sick leave in England

    by Ashleigh Webber 4 Jul 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 4 Jul 2022

    Special paid leave for Covid-19 sickness and self-isolation introduced for NHS staff during the pandemic will be withdrawn in England...

    • Fit for Work
    • Fit notes
    • Latest News

    More health professionals to be able to certify fit notes

    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jun 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jun 2022

    More health professionals have been given the power to certify and issue fit notes to employees who are absent because of sickness.

    • Employee relations
    • Fit for Work
    • Latest News

    Wizz Air boss angers pilots with comments on working with fatigue

    by Adam McCulloch 10 Jun 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 10 Jun 2022

    Pilots’ unions have strongly criticised comments by the head of low cost airline Wizz Air after he appeared to call on crew to work despite being tired.

    • Shielding
    • Absence
    • Coronavirus

    Sickness absence rate in 2021 was highest in more than a decade

    by Ashleigh Webber 8 Jun 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 8 Jun 2022

    The sickness absence rate climbed to 3.1% in 2021 – equivalent to 7.3 days per employee.

    • Reasonable adjustments
    • Stress
    • NHS

    NHS trust discriminated against nurse with migraines

    by Ashleigh Webber 7 Jun 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 7 Jun 2022

    An NHS nurse who lost her job after taking too many sick days for her migraines, anxiety and depression was...

    • Right to work
    • Absence
    • Coronavirus

    Top 10 HR questions May 2022: Bank holidays

    by Brightmine 1 Jun 2022
    by Brightmine 1 Jun 2022

    With the Platinum Jubilee long weekend, last month's most-asked questions include queries about bank holidays, annual leave, sickness, and more...

    • Self-isolation
    • Latest News
    • Health and safety

    Monkeypox advice for employers: working from home and sick pay

    by Ashleigh Webber 26 May 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 26 May 2022

    As the number of monkeypox cases in the UK rises, employers have been advised to conduct risk assessments and follow standard sickness procedures.

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