Returning to work following long-term sickness absence

The HSE has published guidance for safety and other trade union representatives offering practical advice on long-term sickness absence and return to work issues.

The guide outlines six key actions that union representatives can take to reduce sickness absence and help sick employees to successfully return to work.

These include:

• helping to identify measures to improve worker health;

• suggesting the development of workplace policies for managing sickness absence;

• helping keep workers who are off sick in contact with work;

• helping plan adjustments to enable a return to work;

• supporting and empowering sick workers to return to work; and

• helping promote understanding of ill-health and disability at work.

The TUC issued guidance on medical referrals, Rehabilitation, a short guide to the evidence, available on its website (www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/rehabilitation-short-guide-evidence, after reps reported confusion among employers about the roles of different medical practitioners.