Absence management

Managing absence effectively is a core part of fair, consistent people management. Employers must balance operational needs with employee rights, while complying with statutory requirements around sickness absence, family‑related leave and time off.

 

This page brings together Brightmine® UK guidance, tools and resources on absence management, covering both planned and unplanned absence. The content is designed to help HR teams understand their legal obligations, apply absence procedures fairly, and respond appropriately when absence becomes a concern.

 

Clear processes, accurate records and consistent decision‑making are essential when managing absence. Getting this wrong can expose organisations to legal risk, employee relations issues and wider workforce disruption.

Browse our full library of absence management resources

Tools & templates

Maternity leave policy

This model policy sets out employees’ rights to maternity leave and pay, including time off for antenatal care, …

Tools & templates

Ordinary parental leave policy

Get our model parental leave policy with guidance on eligibility, employee rights, and managing leave requests.

Tools & templates

Mother’s consent and entitlement declaration for shared parental leave

Learn how to use a mother’s declaration form to confirm consent and eligibility for shared parental leave, helping …

Guides – How to

How to set absence triggers and targets

Absence triggers and targets help organisations identify patterns of sickness absence and take action consistently and fairly. This …

Tools & templates

Form for notification of employee’s intention to take maternity leave

Employees must give formal notice of their intention to take maternity leave so employers can meet statutory obligations …

Tools & templates

Letter explaining right to statutory maternity pay

Employers must give employees clear written confirmation of their entitlement to statutory maternity pay once eligibility has been …

Tools & templates

Adoption leave policy (adoption within UK)

Keeping accurate sickness absence records helps employers monitor attendance, manage absence consistently and support fair decision‑making. This guide …

Tools & templates

Shared parental leave policy (birth)

A model shared parental leave policy setting out employees’ rights to shared parental leave and pay following the …

Employment law guide

Rest breaks and rest periods

A guide to workers’ statutory rights to rest breaks and rest periods under the Working Time Regulations 1998, …

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