For many employers, having staff off with long term sickness can be a problem. And how you are with your staff will have an effect on how you deal with the issue. No matter how long you’ve been in business, it’s good to remember that not every situation is the same as the next so we thought we’d list a few tips to help:

Can your staff afford the time off work? If your business is going through a quiet stage then it might be a good idea to give your employee a prolonged break.
Make sure that your employee understands their contract. Sometimes they may need reminding of the rules around sickness absence.

Understand your worker. If your employee is going through a tough time then maybe it would be best if you take a step back. After all, you do spend most of your time with them, so the last thing you want to do is upset them. But make sure they know you’re there if they need you.

When your employee returns to work, it’s always a good idea to sit down and have a recorded chat with them. In worst case scenarios, this can also be used if there are recurrences of the same illness. Return to work interviews aren’t just there to keep your employee on their toes, however. This can also be a great opportunity to understand a little bit more and to see if there is anything you can do to help your employee.

In the very extreme and unfortunate circumstances that one of your employees becomes disabled either through an illness or an accident, then other than offer assistance, you may want to start thinking about possible difficulties you may need to overcome for their return to work.

If it comes to the point where you believe the employee is repeatedly missing work and you’ve felt you’ve done all that you can, then sometimes the best approach would be to sit down with your employer and have a formal conversation – these can often be productive for everyone involved.

When your employee is off work due to long term illness it can often be a stressful time for both yourself and the business. If you get to the point where you feel your employee will not be able to continue in their present role, you could consider alternative things for them to do (for example – if they’re off work because off a back related illness then possibly set up a home computer for them to use).

Try to put yourself in their shoes – they’re probably just as frustrated as you that they can’t work.

Laughter really works! A happy work environment can often act as a boost to illness (we’re more prone to illness if we feel run down).

If you or anyone you know would like any more advice, or you need to cover sickness absence with temporary staff please contact us.