It is important for employers to maintain appropriate levels of contact with an employee who is off on sick leave. However, the amount of contact will depend, amongst other things, on the employee’s role and the size of the employer’s business. An employer needs to try and strike the correct balance between offering the employee support and showing concern and also giving the employee space so that they do not feel pressurised to return to work.

LRA guidance on sickness absence recommends that employers should keep in regular contact with employees who are off on long-term sick leave. The rationale for regular contact is to enable the employer to obtain updates on the employee’s progress and also to keep the employee up-to-date with what is happening in the workplace. Obviously employers should exercise judgment and consider the reason for the employee being off sick and which form of contact would be most appropriate.

All employers should have clear sickness absence procedures in place covering long term sick leave, and more specifically, contact during periods of long term sick leave. Where possible, the form and frequency of contact should be discussed between the employer and employee once the employer becomes aware that the employee will be off work for a substantial period of time.