Invitation to a Stage 3 Long-term Sickness Absence Meeting

Long-term sickness absence is defined as any absence lasting at least 28 calendar days. For frequent sickness absences, i.e. when an employee is frequently absent from work for relatively short periods of unconnected illnesses, see the frequent short-term absence suite of documents.

This meeting has been triggered because the employee has hit the defined trigger point (e.g. 6 months of continuous absence) specified in the long-term sickness absence policy. This meeting follows the stage 2 long-term sickness absence formal meeting.

This Invitation to a Stage 3 long-term sickness absence meeting should be used to invite an employee to a formal review meeting under stage 3 of the Company’s sickness absence management procedure as part of its long-term sickness absence policy.

The letter references the earlier stages of the long-term sickness absence management procedure and the options that were discussed to assist the employee in returning to work e.g. a phased return, redeployment or amended hours/job duties. The letter also warns the employee that this is the final stage of the procedure and it is possible that an outcome of the meeting will be dismissal by reason of capability. The stage 3 meeting should usually be conducted by a manager who is more senior than the manager who dealt with the stage 1 and 2 meetings.

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

The employer should consider if the meeting would be more productive or easier for the employee if it is held off-site or the employee is allowed to be accompanied by a member of their family.

An employee on long-term sickness absence may be suffering from some form of disability, which means that reasonable adjustments have to be made for them, including reasonable adjustments to any meeting arrangements. This letter asks the employee what adaptations could be made to enable them to attend the meeting.

The outcome of the Stage 3 meeting will be confirmed in writing. See the Letter confirming the outcome of a Stage 3 long-term sickness absence meeting.

Invitation to a Stage 3 Long-term Sickness Absence Meeting is part of Employment Documents. Just £35.00 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment Documents for 1 year.