This session is aimed at line managers and is delivered by the HR Employment Relations team. It will support you in understanding the sickness and absence policy and the tools and resources available to help you manage this pro-actively. 

You will cover the roles and responsibilities of both managers and employees, and discuss the importance of maintaining contact, return to works, occupational health and reasonable adjustments. You will also have an opportunity to look at how you might plan to hold a conversation about a sickness or absence, as well as working through some scenarios. 

This workshop relates to the: “Leading others: Drives Performance” and “Leading Others: Promotes wellbeing and inclusion” competencies outlined in the Competency Framework.  

 Learning outcomes:  

• Understand why pro-actively managing sickness absence is important  

• Have a greater knowledge of the tools and resources available to support both managers and staff  

• Have had an opportunity to explore sickness absence case studies and feel more confident in holding effective sickness absence conversations 

Please be aware that this workshop is a discussion-based session with pair and group exercises. You do not have to share anything you are not comfortable with but bear in mind you will be asked to reflect on your own experiences.  

Pre Work: 

Please familiarise yourself with the Sickness Absence webpages, particularly the Sickness Absence Management Policy. This will help you to engage with the interactive activities in the session. 

Please note there are separate sessions available on performance: "Supporting Performance Improvement" and “Introduction to Employee Relations”.