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Free Sickness Absence Policy (UK)

A sickness absence policy template for UK employers who want to manage absence fairly and consistently, so everyone knows where they stand. It covers how to report absence, self-certification and fit notes, sick pay including Statutory Sick Pay, return-to-work conversations, and how long-term or repeated absence is handled. Setting this out clearly protects both the business and your people, and takes the guesswork out of a sensitive situation. Fill the highlighted boxes in the document control panel, then adjust the wording to match your sick pay arrangements and how you actually run things. It is a starting point rather than legal advice, so review it before you adopt it. Free to download in editable Word and read-only PDF.

Download the DOCX Word document (.docx) · Free

What's included

  • How to report absence, and self-certification and fit notes
  • Sick pay, including Statutory Sick Pay
  • Return-to-work conversations
  • How long-term and repeated absence is handled

How to use it

  • Fill the highlighted boxes in the document control panel.
  • Adjust the wording to match your sick pay arrangements.
  • Adopt it and make sure managers and staff know how it works.

References Statutory Sick Pay. SSP rates and rules change; check the current figures on GOV.UK and review the policy each tax year.

Free and provided as-is. It is a head start, not professional advice, so always check anything you rely on is correct for your own situation. See the resource terms.