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Managing long-term sickness absence: Contacting the employee and obtaining medical evidence/information

This guide explores how to manage long‑term sickness absence, including maintaining contact with employees and obtaining medical evidence to support a return to work. It helps employers take a structured and supportive approach to managing absence.

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By Dr Paul Nicholson

This series of leading practice guides discusses the management of long-term sickness absence to facilitate a successful return to work.

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  • Recording absence
  • Initial contact with the employee
  • Keeping in touch with the employee
  • Fit notes
  • Obtaining medical information
    • Medical reports
    • Occupational health reports

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Managing long-term sickness absence: Contacting the employee and obtaining medical evidence/information

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About the author

Dr Paul Nicholson

Dr Paul Nicholson OBE is an occupational physician with experience in military/aviation, chemicals/petrochemicals manufacture, consumer products research and development, and office and manufacturing environments.

He has authored more than 150 publications on topics that include health risk communication; occupational asthma; occupational contact dermatitis; shift work; ageing and work; alcohol, drugs and work; business resilience; and COVID-19 and work.

His special interests include promoting best practice and the professional standing of occupational health and wellbeing through the judicious application of evidence-based medicine.

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