ACAS Guidance on managing staff absence

ACAS has published updated guidance to support employers with how to manage and record staff absence (here). The updated guidelines cover the following key areas:

• Checking holiday entitlement and sick pay
• Recording and reducing sickness absence
• Fit notes and proof of sickness
• Time off work for dependants/parents
• Getting a doctor’s report about an employee’s health
• Covid: advice for employers and employees
• Returning to work after absence; and
• Creating absence policies.

ACAS has also published a toolkit (aimed at small employers) on managing sickness absence which can be viewed at https://acas.frontify.com/d/9XEi1YzDsXxS/n-a#/campaigns/sickness-absence. This contains some useful simplified diagrams on top tips and steps for dealing with sickness absence as well as links to podcasts on the topic.