Sickness absence policy and procedures

Ill-health retirement

You may have to retire on the grounds of ill health when:

  1. Medical advice suggests you are unlikely to return from long-term sickness
  2. You meet the criteria for ill health under the relevant pension scheme

It is also possible if you continue to work and:

  • you experience significant difficulties
  • long-term absence is likely

Your manager will submit a referral to occupational health if ill-health retirement is an option. They will explore whether you are eligible or not. They will look at the impact of this upon your pension and any other relevant financial arrangements.

Occupational health may advise that you are:

  • eligible for permanent ill-health retirement, or
  • unfit to return to your role due to an underlying medical condition and do not recommend redeployment

Your manager may escalate to a Stage 3 absence management hearing without the need for a Stage 1 or Stage 2 meeting. 

Terminal illness

We are committed to the Dying to Work Charter. This underpins our desire to support you if you are suffering from a terminal illness. We will try to accommodate your wishes and provide the best financial arrangements for you and your family. This includes:

  • considering ill-health retirement, or
  • a death in service payment, if you are a member of a relevant pension scheme

Your managers will support you if you wish to continue working with a terminal illness. However, we are mindful that there may come a time when you will be unable to continue. In this case, your manager will discuss the options with you, with the support of HR and occupational health.

If you need counselling, you can get help through the employee support and counselling service.