Invitation to a Stage 1 Long-term Sickness Absence Meeting

Long-term sickness absence means any absence lasting at least 28 calendar days.

For frequent sickness absences involving relatively short periods of unconnected illness, see the frequent short-term absence suite of documents.

This Invitation to a Stage 1 long-term sickness absence meeting is used to invite an employee to a formal review meeting under stage 1 of the company’s sickness absence management procedure.

Its purpose is to support and encourage the employee’s return to work, but it also forms part of a process that may later be needed to justify a fair dismissal.

What the Stage 1 Long-Term Sickness Meeting Covers

The meeting is used to discuss:

• the likely length of the employee’s ongoing sickness absence; and
• what steps, if any, may help the employee return to work.

Those steps may include:

• a phased return;
• amended working hours; or
• amended job duties.

Meeting Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments

The letter gives the employee the right to be accompanied to the meeting.

The employer should also consider whether the meeting would be easier or more productive if it were held off-site or if the employee were allowed to be accompanied by a family member.

An employee on long-term sickness absence may have a disability. In that case, reasonable adjustments may need to be made, including adjustments to the meeting arrangements.

This letter asks the employee what adaptations could be made to enable them to attend.

Stage 1 Outcome

A first stage formal warning will be issued at the review meeting and confirmed in writing.

See the Letter confirming the outcome of a Stage 1 long-term sickness absence meeting.

Invitation to a Stage 1 Long-term Sickness Absence Meeting is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.