SICKNESS REPORTING AND PAYMENTS

Sometimes all of us become unwell and are unable to go to work. If you are unwell this is the reporting procedure you must follow.

Reporting sick

On the first day of absence, you must telephone your line manager at the earliest opportunity, or follow procedures in accordance with your department guidelines, normally no later than 10am. In exceptional circumstances, a telephone call from a relative or friend will be sufficient.

You will be asked to provide details of your illness or injury and indicate how long you might be away from work. You should also tell your manager, if possible, any tasks that need to be undertaken whilst you are absent.

If you were not able to speak to your manager when reporting your absence, your manager is entitled to telephone you at home to clarify any of the details which were provided and to offer support during your period of absence.

If there are exceptional circumstances which may make notification of any future absence difficult, you must tell your line manager in advance so that this can be recorded.

Where the absence is a result of an accident at work, you should confirm this to your manager, as they will need to record it appropriately.

Managing attendance (sickness) guide

Managing investigations guide

Sickness absence form

Wellbeing meeting form

Long term sickness absence monitoring form

How should you maintain contact?

Your manager will advise you what contact you will be required to make on subsequent days of absence and whether you are required to telephone the day before you intend to return to work (this may be necessary where someone else is covering your role in your absence).

When should you submit a Fit Note?

If you are sick for more than seven days (including non-working days), you must produce a Fit Note (medical certificate) from your doctor from the eighth day and contact your manager again. If your absence continues beyond the date given by your doctor, further Fit Notes must be provided to cover the whole period.

Monitoring of sickness absence

When you return to work you will be required to complete and sign a Sickness Declaration Form. Your sickness absence history will be reviewed by your line manager to determine whether you have hit any of our absence triggers.

Pro-rata sickness absence

Many employees do not work the 'standard' working week of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. For those who work outside of the 'standard' working week please see the guidance below on how to pro-rata an employees sickness.

Guide to pro-rating

Sickness during annual leave

If you are sick during annual leave, you should follow the notification procedure described above. Annual leave within the current leave year will be reinstated only on the prompt production of a Fit Note within seven working days. You will be regarded as being on sick leave from the date of the doctor's Fit Note. The cost of this will be met by the Authority.

Sick pay

All employees benefit from sick pay and the amount we receive depends on our length of service.

Full pay

Full basic pay less normal deductions (if statutory sick pay is payable, this will be shown in your full basic pay), if you receive incapacity benefit in addition to full pay, your pay will be reduced to ensure that the amount of pay you receive, when pay and state benefit are added together, is equivalent to full pay.

Half pay

Half basic pay plus statutory sick pay less normal deductions (if applicable) or, if you receive incapacity benefit from DSS, half basic pay only less normal deductions, if half pay and state benefit together exceed full pay, then an amount equivalent to full pay only is paid.

Sick pay entitlement - length of time sick pay paid

*(after four months' service)

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