Created by:
Teresa Garanhel
When someone on your team falls ill, it’s important to have a clear, consistent, and compassionate approach to managing their absence.
A well-crafted sickness absence policy ensures you’re looking after your people while keeping operations running smoothly.
This free template helps you set out the process for reporting, recording, and managing employee sickness in a way that’s fair, compliant, and easy to follow.
What is a sickness absence policy template?
A sickness absence policy template provides the framework your organization can use to define how sickness-related absences are reported and managed.
It covers everything from when and how employees should inform their manager about being off sick, to how sick pay is handled, what evidence is required, and how to support someone returning to work.
In short, it helps you balance empathy for employees’ wellbeing with the practicalities of running a business.
Who is it for?
This template is designed for HR professionals and people leaders who want to introduce or update a fair and transparent sickness absence policy.
It’s especially useful if:
- You’re building out your HR policy library or employee handbook.
- You want to ensure consistency in how managers handle short- or long-term absence.
- You need to stay compliant with employment laws but don’t have time to start from scratch.
If you want to set clear expectations and foster a supportive culture, this one’s for you.
How to use the template
You can use this template as a ready-to-go foundation for your own sickness absence policy.
- Download the editable version: available in different formats.
- Add your company details: update the placeholders (like your organization’s name, the people management software, and any specific timeframes for company sick pay)
- Review with your legal or HR team: ensure the policy aligns with your local employment laws and internal procedures.
- Share it internally: roll it out via your employee handbook, intranet, or onboarding materials to make sure everyone knows the process.
The template also includes a simple visual flow showing how to handle common sickness scenarios, making it easier for managers and employees to get it right.
Download your sickness absence policy
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