Absence monitoring

The University has a formal process for the recording and monitoring of sickness absence (see Managing Absence Code of Practice). It is recommended that managers (often first line supervisors) talk to members of staff on, or soon after, they return to work (i.e. undertake a 'return to work discussion'). This may be only a brief discussion where a member of staff has taken only one short period of time off work for a minor illness. The return to work discussion is an informal intervention for managing sickness absence and can be very useful for gathering information about an ongoing or recurrent health problem for a member of staff.