Days 1-7
Checklist Head of Department/Equivalent Days 1-7
- Contact the absent employee by day 3 at the latest.
- Keep a dialogue with the employee about any adaptations that may facilitate their return to work.
- Where necessary, contact occupational health services.
- Document the contact, assessments and decisions in Adato, under "prehab".
The employee reports in sick on day 1 in accordance with workplace procedures and registers their absence in Primula. As head of department/equivalent it is important that you have contacted the employee about their absence as soon as possible, but by day 3 at the latest. This contact is important to be able to identify the causes of any ill health as soon as possible and assess any possible adaptations that may facilitate return to regular work. The employer determines the right to sick pay for the first 14 days. This contact is also important so the employee feels welcomed back to work.
Adaptations which may be relevant in the early stages include:
- Working hours
- Workplace
- Travel to and from work
- Tasks
It is important to create a sense of control and reduce stress for employees on sick leave as a result of stress and a high workload. As a manager, you can contribute by creating a dialogue with the employee and suggest practical solutions to improve the situation. Early contact and consideration from an immediate supervisor is a success factor for rehabilitation and can reduce the length of sick leave.
If the employee’s ill health is work-related, as head of department/manager, you can begin discussions with occupational health about any relevant efforts they may provide at this early stage. In the event of work-related ill health, sick leave should be granted via occupational health services. Occupational health services can assist with contacting a doctor (sick leave), counselling with a behavioural science specialist/psychologist, physiotherapy appointments and rehab coordination.
For more information about occupational Health care.