Sickness Absence Policy & Return to Work Document (Draft Templates)

Sickness Absence Policy & Return to Work Document – Draft Templates

This resource provides a practical set of employer-focused documents to help you manage sickness absence consistently, fairly and reasonably, including in light of the Statutory Sick Pay changes that came into force on 6 April 2026.

What's included?

The resource includes three documents:

• Return-to-Work Meeting Template – designed to support a consistent return-to-work discussion following sickness absence, including helping identify any genuine health or workplace issues at an early stage.
• Sickness Absence Management Policy – a draft policy covering sickness notification and reporting requirements, return-to-work meetings, optional absence triggers including rolling periods and the Bradford Factor, staged sickness absence meetings covering Stages 1–3, and discretion and Equality Act safeguards.
• Sickness and Absence Management Policy – Common Questions – an employer information guide addressing common questions around sickness absence and the introduction of absence management policies.

The resource is intended to provide employers with a framework that can be adapted to their own business. Formal absence triggers are not mandatory, and the policy allows employers to consider what is reasonable in their particular circumstances.

Please note

These documents are provided as draft templates for general guidance only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

You should review and adapt the documents to suit your business before using them, or seek professional advice where appropriate.

Copyright and permitted use

These resources are for your own personal or internal business use only. They must not be copied, shared, distributed, resold or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission.

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