Sickness absence - return to work interviews

6. Sickness absence - Return to Work Interviews

• As soon as possible following the employee‘s return to work from each sickness absence, the manager must meet with the employee on a one-to-one basis to conduct a Return to Work interview. 

• In this interview, the manager should cover the reasons for their sickness absence as outlined on the Statement of Fitness for Work or Self Certificate (where applicable) and the Return to Work form should be completed online.  This must be carried out regardless of the length of their sickness absence from work.

• The purpose of the Return to Work interview is to:

• review the reasons for the sickness absence
• ensure the employee is well enough to return to work
• determine whether they require any adjustments to assist their rehabilitation
• consider whether a referral to the Government’s Fit for Work Scheme or Council’s Occupational Health Service as appropriate
• let the employee know if they are close to hitting the triggers of the Formal Sickness Absence Procedure and therefore a cause for concern and the possible consequences as a result.

• The Return to Work interview can be used as a means to providing the employee with guidance regarding their level of sickness absence.  If the Return to Work Interview is to be used rather than conducting a Guidance Meeting, the outcome of the Return to Work interview should be confirmed in writing to the employee. 

• The manager should take into account when considering performance concerns that an employee returning from a long period of sickness absence may take a period of adjustment to settle back into work and return to the required level of performance.  

• The manager must ensure that sickness absence information for the employee is entered onto SAP.