As an employer, you should make clear what happens when workers need time off.
You can decide whether to have one policy or separate policies to cover different types of absence.
Having absence policies can:
- help everyone understand their responsibilities
- support employers to manage absence consistently
What your absence policies should cover
Your policies should explain how you will deal with different types of absence. This includes time off for:
- holiday
- care and support – for example, family-related or bereavement leave
- medical appointments
- sickness – this includes pregnancy-related sickness
- when there's disruption getting to work
Some types of absence can usually be planned in advance. For example, holiday or some family-related leave. Others may happen unexpectedly. For example, sickness, bereavement or time off for dependants.
What to consider
In any policies about absence, you should consider including:
- how workers should book planned absences
- how workers should report unplanned absences
- how you handle unauthorised absence and lateness
- whether you use a trigger point system and how this works
- how workers should keep in touch during absence
- support available to workers while they're off
- what to do if someone needs time off for reasons related to a disability
- support available for workers returning to work after absence
- what you'll pay your worker during absence, for example if they'll get sick pay or holiday pay
For some areas related to absence you must follow what the law says. For example:
Consulting workers and representatives
When creating or reviewing your absence policy, you should involve any recognised trade union. Check if there is an agreement in place that requires this. If there are no recognised trade unions, you should consult worker representatives.
Supporting and training managers
As an employer, you should support managers to follow and apply your absence policies.
You should:
- share absence policies with the whole organisation
- make policies clear and easy to follow
- provide training on the policies
Get more advice and support
If you have any questions about absence policies, you can contact the Acas helpline.
Acas also provides:
- tailored support for employers
- training on managing absence
- free webinars – including on sickness absence