Absence Procedures Q&As

Overview

In addition to the list of legislation given at the end of these Q&As, the Acas Code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures is of crucial importance to absence management. For details of the way in which the Code and well-drafted disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures may be used to assist employers in certain cases of absence management, see our Discipline and grievance procedures Q&As.

These Q&As address the legalities of handling unauthorised absence, short and long-term leave, seeking medical evidence and the potential repercussions of implementing disciplinary procedures and dismissing employees who are on long-term absence.

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Can an employee be dismissed for a short, unauthorised absence?

Can an employee’s pay rise be frozen because of frequent short-term sickness absence?

How should data on sickness absences be handled?

How can a medical report from an employee’s doctor be obtained?

Can an absent employee be disciplined for refusing permission to contact their doctor?

Can an employee be dismissed because of long-term absence?

How long do employers have to wait before dismissing an employee on long-term sick leave?

Can an employer rely on a term in an employment law contract as a defence to an unfair dismissal claim?

Is dismissal automatically unfair if the employee is dismissed before an entitlement to sick pay has expired?

Factsheets

Absence measurement and management

Learn how to measure sickness absence, the main components of an absence policy, and how to address short and long-term absence in an organisation.

Surveys

Absence management survey

Produced in partnership with Simplyhealth, this report explores trends, policy and practice in the UK

Guides

Managing long-term sickness and incapacity

Guidance produced jointly with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) offering employers advice for managing long-term sickness absence and incapacity for work

Guides

Return-to-work support after long-term sickness

This guide follows the introduction of "fit notes" and focuses on the key behaviours managers need for returns to work after long-term sickness.

Q and As

Managing absence Q&As

Browse through the most frequently asked questions on the legal issues relating to absence management

Q and As