Sickness Pay How easy is it for an employer to dismiss
an employee as a result of sickness?
Generally an employer is likely to want to you to wait for you to return to work, so
if you've been off for a relatively short period of time is very unlikely that your
employer is going to dismiss you.
If you've been off for a prolonged period of time or have frequent absences then your
employer's unlikely to dismiss you without following a reasonable procedure because they
may put themselves at risk of disability discrimination it may be that and so an employer will generally
contact you and arrange to meet with you and if they are contemplating dismissal they should
take medical evidence as to when you are likely to return and would be expected to wait a
reasonable time for you to return.
The issues that the employer will need to weigh up are how problematic your absent is
to the business and whether they can reasonably expected to wait the you to return so if your
return is uncertain and you've been off for a long period of time, your employer may take
the position to dismiss or if you are off for a set period of time are expected to make
a full return, it's unlikely that it would be reasonable for your employer to dismiss
you.
Should an employer have an absence management policy?
Employers often have an absence sickness policy which helps them and you if there is a period
of absence.
Absence can you be a single long period or more frequent shorter periods.
Some sickness absence policies will cover those quite reasonably and if there are frequent
shorter absences there may be a serious of warnings given in accordance with policy if
your absence is problematic.
And if there is a longer absence and the duration isn�t clear then your employer is likely
to meet with you in accordance with the policy and then will decide, based on medical evidence
and discussions with you, whether dismissal would be a reasonable outcome.