LAST UPDATED JUNE 2024
Distinctly expects all their people to maintain a healthy lifestyle, look after their overall wellbeing and to attend work, on a regular basis. However, the agency does recognise that occasionally people will be absent from work due to genuine ill health, mental health issues, severe period pain or injury. If this happens we would expect you to seek medical advice and support as soon as possible, to aid a speedy recovery. We will also offer support in genuine cases of ill health.
Notification
If you are absent from work due to feeling unwell, injury or accident you will notify your line manager via telephone as soon as reasonably possible, on your first day of absence (ideally no later than 8.30AM).
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A text message or email is not sufficient.
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You must give a reason for your absence and if possible the anticipated date of your return to work.
Your line manager will then update the team and ensure that any urgent work is redistributed.
Keeping the agency informed
You must notify your line manager by telephone at the beginning of each working day of absence to update them of your progress and give an expected day of return to work, unless your absence is covered by a doctor's certificate.
Recording sick leave
Sick leave needs to be recorded on the day by line managers within Charlie HR, and within Forecast in a timely manner.
If your report has called in sick leave please follow the below procedure:
SICK LEAVE PROCEDURE FOR LINE MANAGERS
If your absence continues for more than seven days (including non-working days), you must obtain a doctor’s fit note of absence on the eighth day of the absence. If your absence continues you must submit further doctor’s fit notes promptly to cover any continued period of absence.
The fit note will enable your doctor to advise that you are able to return to work with either adjustments to your duties or working arrangements. Alternatively your doctor may still sign you off as unfit to work or fit to work.
On your first day back to work after any absence you will be asked to sit down with your manager to have a Return to Work Interview. The first part of the interview requires you to self-certify, stating the duration of the period of absence, your first and last day of sickness, the dates of absence, the specific reason for the absence and whether or not you consulted a doctor. Your manager will then ask you questions, to establish whether or not you are fit for work and how to manage the absence going forward.
If you receive a fit note from your doctor with recommendations on how you should return to work you must give this to your manager who will discuss the doctor’s advice with you. Ultimately it will be the agency’s decision as to whether they can accommodate the doctor’s recommendations.