Managing Attendance Policy - Halton and St Helens PCT

Meetings should be conducted in normal working time, giving consideration to any physicalconditions the employee may have.Home visits should only take place with the express consent of the employee, and where it isnot possible for the employee to attend a meeting at work.The outcome of all meetings must be confirmed in writing.Long Term Absence Review MeetingAt the interview the following should be covered: -The situation to date should be reviewed.Existing medical advice should be discussed, and whether there is a need to obtainfurther information.The possible effect on pay and benefits in regard of the employee’s situation shouldbe discussed, i.e. expiry of full/half pay or eligibility for Temporary Injury Allowance.Future outcomes should be discussed, including potential effects on employment, thepossibility of future termination of employment, if a return to work is not achievablewithin a reasonable period.A further meeting arranged, as necessary.A point of contact should be given to the employee in case of queries and theappropriate Manager is responsible for ensuring that regular contact is maintainedwith the employee.Long Term Absence and Attendance RecordThe Trust will offer support to those employees who have been off work for a prolonged periodof time and, where possible, assist in a full and speedy recovery for the employee. However, allemployees have a contractual duty to attend work regularly and, therefore; any instances oflong term sickness will be taken into account when reviewing an employee’s overallsickness/absence record.In cases of long term sickness absence occurring after short term interviews, on return to work,the Line Manager, in conjunction with Human Resources, should use their discretion. If in the12 months prior to the commencement of long term sick leave the employee has had aninformal file note, Stage One or Stage Two interview, the following options may be considered: Previous Informal File Note - move to Stage One if subsequent absence levels areunsatisfactory Previous Stage One warning - repeat Stage One warning Previous Stage Two warning - repeat Stage Two warningWhere a member of staff goes off sick again within 8 weeks of return from the Long TermAbsence (providing the reason for absence is the same) they may be returned to the Long TermPage 23 of 31