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Managing long-term sickness absence: Return to work and alternative outcomes

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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  • Return-to-work arrangements
    • Phased return to work
    • Workplace adjustments
    • Relocation
    • Redeployment to suitable alternative work
    • Return-to-work plan
    • Return-to-work meeting
  • Alternative outcomes following long-term sickness absence
    • Ill-health retirement
    • Dismissal on the ground of ill health

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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.

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