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February 06, 2008
SICKNESS LOTTERY - JOINT STATEMENT
Last October we agreed a Joint Statement with HPA in an effort to improve the management of sickness absence and to bring local practices in line with nationally agreed principles of fairness and diversity; and to make decision-making about referral to unsatisfactory absence procedures part of a judgment and not a reflex to hitting the 12-day trigger. Below, you can see the note issued by the chief officer last year and you can download a copy of the statement. The way the policy operates remains unfair, not least as some staff are still being automatically referred to formal stages merely on the basis of triggers. There remains a determination by HPA to mix up short and long-term absences – and to count retrospectively. As it operates in Hampshire you could have a period of sickness absence dealt with under the long-term procedure and then if within the next twelve months you have a single day sickness you could be referred to formal procedures. I think that’s tantamount to double jeopardy – a principle that is meant to safeguard a person from being judged twice. But it’s the same with retrospection! And the Impact Assessment? – still waiting… The policy implementation remains unbalanced. We need firmness and fairness in the management of sickness absence. If you are told that you are going to be referred to a Stage 1 on the basis of hitting the 12-day trigger, please let Napo know and we will ask HR to examine the referral in light of the Joint Statement on sickness management. We believe automatic referral is a breach of the agreed policy; and we believe such a practice runs the risk of being insensitive to diversity and other considerations. (Paragraph 80 - sickness management policy)
Message from Barrie Crook, Chief Officer: 23/10/07
"Staff will be aware that there have been ongoing discussions between NAPO, UNISON and management on the implementation of the new sickness policy.
I am pleased to say that a joint statement has now been agreed that addresses the issues that were causing most concern ie:
• how absences are 'counted back' within the policy
• how absences over 21 days are counted within the short term part of the policy
• the status of the policy
• the operation of the policy: in particular the level of discretion of a line manager in calling a meeting under Stage One of the policy when a trigger point has been met (please note there are some important changes here which you may wish to familiarise yourselves with)
• impact assessment of the policy
I hope this statement will clarify issues for staff: if you have any queries, please address them to Christine Straw, Director of HR, in the first instance.
Posted by Hampshire at February 6, 2008 08:41 AM