Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for less than 3 consecutive days do not need to submit a certificate. Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for more than 3 consecutive days but less than 8 consecutive days should submit a Self-Certified Sickness Absence Notification. See Appendix 1 Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for more than 7 consecutive days should submit a Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note) which should be submitted to the manager within 3 calendar days of the 8th day of sickness absence. Any subsequent fit note issued must be submitted within 3 calendar days of the expiry of the previous note. When determining consecutive days of absence, all days including weekends and off-duty days should be included. If a colleague anticipates difficulty in submitting a fit note they must communicate this to their manager. Where a colleague fails to follow the sickness reporting procedure, including submission of fit notes within the specified timescales without reasonable cause they will be regarded as unauthorised absence and further action may be considered by the manager in accordance with the Trust’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. The colleague will not receive pay for any periods of unauthorised absence. Where late submission of fit notes results in pay being withheld, the colleague will only be reimbursed statutory sick pay and not occupational sick pay, except in exceptional circumstances. Process for Short Term Absences The Colleague must call to report their sickness, in accordance with the Supporting Attendance Policy. An email or text is not deemed as an acceptable method of contact for reporting an absence. The day of the sickness, the manager, must email the divisional email in box to inform them of the absence of a colleague. PA’s/Admin support can contact the HR Officer to report this, but any correspondence from the HR Officer will be sent straight to the manager. If there are technical difficulties and the email system is down, please call the HR team within your division and ask to speak to the HR Officer to report the absence. Continue to record all sickness absences on your Staff Variation Lists (SVL)/Health Roster/Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This is crucial as it links to staff pay.
Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for less than 3 consecutive days do not need to submit a certificate. Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for more than 3 consecutive days but less than 8 consecutive days should submit a Self-Certified Sickness Absence Notification. See Appendix 1 Colleagues absent from work due to sickness for more than 7 consecutive days should submit a Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note) which should be submitted to the manager within 3 calendar days of the 8th day of sickness absence. Any subsequent fit note issued must be submitted within 3 calendar days of the expiry of the previous note. When determining consecutive days of absence, all days including weekends and off-duty days should be included. If a colleague anticipates difficulty in submitting a fit note they must communicate this to their manager. Where a colleague fails to follow the sickness reporting procedure, including submission of fit notes within the specified timescales without reasonable cause they will be regarded as unauthorised absence and further action may be considered by the manager in accordance with the Trust’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. The colleague will not receive pay for any periods of unauthorised absence. Where late submission of fit notes results in pay being withheld, the colleague will only be reimbursed statutory sick pay and not occupational sick pay, except in exceptional circumstances. Process for Short Term Absences The Colleague must call to report their sickness, in accordance with the Supporting Attendance Policy. An email or text is not deemed as an acceptable method of contact for reporting an absence. The day of the sickness, the manager, must email the divisional email in box to inform them of the absence of a colleague. PA’s/Admin support can contact the HR Officer to report this, but any correspondence from the HR Officer will be sent straight to the manager. If there are technical difficulties and the email system is down, please call the HR team within your division and ask to speak to the HR Officer to report the absence. Continue to record all sickness absences on your Staff Variation Lists (SVL)/Health Roster/Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This is crucial as it links to staff pay.
hr07-2017-10-18-toolkit-for-managers.docx