HR Training
Sickness Absence Training
Employee absence is the biggest non-recoverable cost to your organisation, making absence management an essential skill for managers.
Our Managing Sickness Absence training course will give you the confidence to deal with absence issues by offering practical advice and guidance on short and long-term absence through to medical capability, dismissal, and the law.
Who should attend?
This practical and interactive course is suitable for supervisors or managers who are involved in any aspect of absence management. Both new managers and experienced managers who would appreciate a refresher will find the course useful.
Who will deliver the training?
Our management training is delivered by highly experienced and qualified HR practitioners with genuine ‘hands-on’ practical experience of supporting employers all over the UK with their HR requirements.
What are the benefits?
Delegates will increase their knowledge and confidence in dealing with a range of common short-term and long-term absence situations fairly and effectively. They will understand how to apply best practice, taking into account the legal principles associated with managing absence.
By enrolling managers in this course, organisations will benefit from a more robust and consistent management of absence issues, likely to lead to improved attendance and more successful outcomes. The training will also increase the organisation’s prospects of success in the event of an Employment Tribunal claim.
Course content
The cost of absence and the importance of effective management
Potential causes of sickness absence
Types of absence management procedures
Distinguishing between capability and misconduct issues
Maintaining contact
Understanding disability and reasonable adjustments
When to take formal action
When and how to obtain medical evidence or Occupational Health advice
How to conduct formal absence management meetings
Determining a suitable outcome
When is dismissal justified?
Course duration and timings
This half-day course is available for up to 12 delegates and can be delivered in-person or virtually, depending on your needs.
A more in-depth one-day session can also be designed to include reference to your own policies and procedures and offer more case study work.
We recommend face-to-face delivery for better interactivity, but the course can also be delivered virtually (in two half-day sessions for the one-day course) with content adjusted accordingly.
Timing and location can be arranged to suit your preferences.
Flexible programmes designed around your organisation
Our expert practitioners work closely with you to design programmes that reflect your organisation’s challenges, culture and priorities. Whether you are developing new managers, strengthening leadership capability or addressing specific people risks, we create learning that delivers practical results.
Every programme we deliver is built on the same core principles:
Current and relevant
Our content is continually updated to reflect the latest employment law developments, leadership thinking and workplace best practice. Your people learn what matters now - not outdated theory.
Engaging and interactive
We use proven learning techniques, real-world scenarios and practical application to ensure learning sticks. Sessions are participative, thought-provoking and designed to drive lasting behavioural change.
Outcome focused
Every programme is aligned to your business priorities and built to deliver clear, measurable results. From improved manager confidence to reduced risk and stronger performance, we focus on real impact.
WorkNest helps develop new managers, address complex people challenges and build a stronger leadership pipeline.
What our clients say
Whatever your size or sector, we design solutions that fit your needs. From growing SMEs to national organisations, we help teams build capability, strengthen leadership, and stay compliant.
Royal Geographical Society
Aquis Exchange plc
