Managing Sickness
Reduce Lost Time. Stay Legally Compliant. Protect Your Business.
Sickness absence costs UK employers billions each year — in lost time, reduced productivity, and increased pressure on remaining staff.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS):
-
UK workers lost an average of 5.7 days per employee per year to sickness (2023 figures)
-
That equates to 185.6 million lost working days across the UK
-
The most common causes include minor illnesses, musculoskeletal issues, and mental health
-
Long-term absence (4+ weeks) accounts for the majority of lost time
For small and medium-sized businesses, these absences hit harder — costing time, money, and morale.
How HR Matters Helps You Tackle Absence
At HR Matters, we work with business owners to reduce sickness absence, improve visibility, and support staff properly — while protecting you from legal risk.
Our absence management support includes:
Bradford Factor Scoring
We help you introduce the Bradford Factor, a proven method for identifying frequent short-term absence patterns that disrupt operations.
Combined with our HR software, this allows you to run reports, set absence triggers, and take action consistently.
People Management Software
Track every absence, trigger return-to-work actions, generate absence reports, and get real-time visibility into absence trends — all from one system.
Return-to-Work Interviews
We provide robust return-to-work forms and coach your managers to hold structured conversations that cover:
-
The reason for absence
-
Any adjustments required
-
Health & safety considerations
-
A clear plan for moving forward
These meetings reduce repeat absences and reinforce standards.
Welfare Meetings & Long-Term Absence Support
If an employee is off long-term, we’ll guide you through:
-
Welfare check-ins
-
Collecting and interpreting GP or Occupational Health advice
-
Assessing whether absence may be related to a disability under the Equality Act 2010
-
Adjusting duties or working arrangements where needed
Managing Repeat Absences & Medical Capability
We help employers take formal action when absence becomes excessive — but do it the right way.
That includes:
-
Initiating a medical capability process
-
Gathering medical evidence
-
Following a fair and legally sound route, including warnings or dismissal where appropriate
-
Avoiding tribunal risk by respecting disability protections
You Can't Just Dismiss Someone for Being Off Sick
Even if absence is disruptive or frustrating, you must follow a fair and legal process.
If the illness is related to a disability, failure to act properly could lead to a discrimination claim.
HR Matters helps you balance firmness with fairness — supporting your business and your people.
Ready to Take Control of Sickness Absence?
We’ll put structure, systems and support in place so you can:
Cut down on lost days
Handle absences confidently and legally
Know when and how to take disciplinary or capability action
legal-team@hr-m.co.uk
01733 667030