Levels of attendance at work directly affect the quality and provision of services through the ability of employees to carry out their work efficiently and effectively.  Whilst some absence due to sickness is inevitable, the council's objective is to ensure that high levels of attendance at work are encouraged through a positive culture and working environment in which individuals are valued and where fair, consistent and supportive management practices are applied.

Below you will find the councils Supporting Attendance at Work policy along with associated guidance, forms and template letters.

Policy/Procedure

• Supporting Attendance at Work Policy Procedure (Revised Jan 2021) (PDF, 213 KB)(opens new window) 
• Discretion to Extend Sickness Allowance (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window)

Additional Guidance

Below you will find management guidance relating to the application of the Supporting Attendance at Work Policy & Procedure.

• Managers Guide to conducting a Return to Work (PDF, 81 KB)(opens new window)
• Managers Guide to conducting an Informal Review Meeting (PDF, 88 KB)(opens new window)
• Management Guidance - Reasonable Adjustments (PDF, 254 KB)(opens new window)
• Management Guidance - Applying Management Discretion (PDF, 197 KB)(opens new window)
• Managers Guide to conducting a Stage 1 Meeting (PDF, 88 KB)(opens new window)
• Managers Guide to conducting a Stage 2 Meeting (PDF, 89 KB)(opens new window)
• Managers Guide to conducting a Capability Assessment Meeting (PDF, 96 KB)(opens new window)
• Flowchart - Supporting Attendance at Work - Intermittent Absence (PDF, 161 KB)(opens new window)
• Flowchart - Supporting Attendance at Work - Continuous Absence (PDF, 163 KB)(opens new window)
• Flowchart - Supporting Attendance at Work - Intermittent and Continuous (PDF, 168 KB)(opens new window)
• Ill Health Retirement Guidance - Employee (PDF, 113 KB)(opens new window)
• Ill Health Retirement Guidance - Decision Maker (PDF, 65 KB)(opens new window)
• Ill Health Retirement Process - Guidance for Managers (Non-Teaching) (PDF, 128 KB)(opens new window)
• Help EAP Brief (PDF, 227 KB)(opens new window)
• Dying to Work Charter (PDF, 109 KB)(opens new window)

Forms

You will find copies of forms relating to supporting attendance at work here

Letters

You will find copies of template letters relating to supporting attendance at work here

Stress Action

• For details on stress action plans, protocols and guidance, refer to Employee Mental Wellbeing