Long Term Sickness Absence: 2026 UK Employer Guide
Long-term sickness absence is one of the most sensitive and legally complex workforce issues UK employers face. While many absences begin as short-term illness, situations can quickly evolve into extended periods away from work, creating operational strain, financial cost and potential legal exposure. Handled poorly, long-term sickness absence can lead to unfair dismissal claims, disability […]
Jury Service Employer: Employers FAQs
In this guide for employers, we outline your responsibilities if an employee has been called up for jury service. What is jury service? Jury service is a public duty. Anyone aged between 18 – 70 can be chosen at random from the electoral register to serve on a jury. Do you have […]
Leave of Absence UK 2026: What It Is, When It Applies
Managing employee absences is a balancing act. Employers have to accommodate legitimate leave requests while ensuring productivity isn’t compromised. But what exactly counts as a leave of absence, and how should employers handle it? In the UK, there’s no single legal definition of a leave of absence; it can cover anything from parental leave and […]
How to Reduce Absenteeism at Work
Absenteeism refers to an employee’s habitual absence from work, often without valid reason or prior approval. It can significantly impact workplace productivity, morale and operational costs. Employee absenteeism costs UK employers billions of pounds each year in lost working days, temporary replacement staff and sick pay. For UK employers, addressing absenteeism is an important aspect […]
Sabbatical Leave UK 2026 : What It Is, Rules & Policies
There are various reasons why an employee may want to take a period of sabbatical leave, from family commitments to carrying out research or volunteering abroad. Employees may have personal ambitions and goals they want to achieve, without stepping away from their career or job permanently. For employers, it will be important to understand how […]
Contacting Employees on Sick Leave
As an employer, you are obliged to take steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of your employees. During a period of sickness absence, employers have to ensure they are striking the right balance between reasonable contact designed to check on the employee’s welfare, or to address any absence-related matters, and excessive or unnecessary contact […]
Return to Work Interview: Employers’ Guide
Conducting a return to work interview is an essential part of an organisation’s absence management programme. Having a focused discussion with a returning employee is shown to help reduce unnecessary sickness absence and helps the returning employee transition back into the workplace environment with greater ease and with the necessary support from their employer. Return […]
Dealing with Unauthorised Absence from Work
Unauthorised absence from work can have a significant impact on your business, both in financial and operational terms. Given that these types of absence usually take place unexpectedly, it can be difficult to pre-empt or prevent this type of absence, or to make arrangements for temporary replacement staff to mitigate any disruption that might be […]
Return to Work: Essential Guide for Employers
Returning to work after an extended period of leave, such as long-term sick leave or maternity leave, can be a daunting prospect for employees. Having the full support of their employer can help to ease an employee’s concerns and address any practicalities, making this transitional period back into the workplace more likely to result in […]
Unpaid Leave: Guide for Employers
Unpaid leave is where an employee takes time off from their job without receiving their usual pay. Unlike statutory leave entitlements, such as annual leave or sick leave, unpaid leave is generally agreed between the employer and employee. Common reasons for unpaid leave include emergencies, caring responsibilities, extended travel, or personal commitments. For UK employers, […]