This highly interactive workshop explores the legal framework governing short-term absence management, from contractual obligations and disability discrimination considerations (including neurodivergence, mental health, and underlying illness) to the practical tools employers rely on, such as trigger point systems, return-to-work interviews, and occupational health referrals. It also addresses the procedural and legal requirements for managing persistent absence through to dismissal, equipping HR professionals with the knowledge and confidence to handle absence fairly, sensitively, and in a way that minimises tribunal risk.
Short-term absence is one of the most common and most challenging people management issues facing organisations today. This interactive workshop provides HR professionals with the practical tools, legal framework, and confidence to manage intermittent absence fairly, consistently, and effectively. Content includes:
- The legal framework: contractual obligations
- When short-term absence may engage disability discrimination obligations — including conditions such as neurodivergence, mental health conditions, and chronic illness
- What a robust absence management policy should contain
- Trigger point systems (e.g. Bradford Factor): uses, limitations, and legal risks
- Return-to-work interviews: purpose, best practice, and how to conduct them effectively
- Occupational health referrals: when to refer, what to ask, and how to use reports
- The risk of dismissal for persistent short-term absence: legal tests and procedural requirements
