4.7 Absence Management Policy

Purpose: The purpose of the Absence Management Policy is to inform the employee of the Practice’s procedure in dealing with illness and injuries. The Practice realises that occasionally you will be unable to attend work due to illness or an injury. In these situations the Practice expects and requires certain actions from you as outlined below. Scope: All employees of Glasslyn Vets. Procedure:

If you are absent from work, whether due to sickness or otherwise, you must notify your manager or designated contact directly as early as possible and in any event not later than 9.00am on the first day of absence. Text messages are not acceptable.

If you are unable to contact your manager directly, you should leave a message on their voicemail together with a contact number and the time at which you may be contacted. You should indicate the nature and expected length of absence.

Only under extreme circumstances should someone else phone your manager on your behalf. Failure to follow the correct notification procedures may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Disciplinary Policy.

If you are absent due to sickness or incapacity for two or more consecutive days, you must, at your own expense furnish to the Practice with a certificate from a registered Medical Practitioner specifying the nature of your illness or incapacity and the likely duration of your absence. The medical certificate should be submitted no later than the third day of absence. Weekly medical certificates and contact are required thereafter.

It is your responsibility to claim payment from the Department of Social Protection.

In this regard you should remember to get a signed social welfare form from your doctor during your visit. You should then complete and sign the Employee section and pass the form to your manager.

The Practice expects all employees to be fit and able to fulfil the duties outlined in their job description. In the case of prolonged absence or abnormal levels of intermittent absence, the Practice may invoke the disciplinary procedure, regardless of whether the periods in question are covered by medical certificates or otherwise. If you shall at any time be incapacitated or prevented by illness, injury, accident or any other circumstances beyond your control from discharging in full your duties for a total of 90 or more days (which may be consecutive or non-consecutive) in any twelve consecutive calendar months, (notwithstanding the existence of any private or permanent health insurance scheme operated by the Employer to Glasslyn Vets for your benefit) the Employer to Glasslyn Vets may in its absolute discretion terminate your employment under this Agreement by giving you one month’s notice in writing. The Employer reserves the right to pay your salary and benefits (if any) in lieu of such notice.

The Practice reserves the right to request you to attend a Practice appointed Doctor at any time during sickness or incapacity. Failure to submit to a medical examination by a practitioner appointed by the Employer for the purpose of establishing your fitness to perform your obligations may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Disciplinary policy, up to and including dismissal.

The Practice does not operate an official sick pay scheme. However, the Practice reserves the right to, at its’ sole discretion, make payment for absences from work to an employee on a case by case basis, for a period of time determined by the Practice. Returning to Work:

After every absence, immediately following your return to work, your manager will hold a return to work meeting with you.

It is your responsibility to ensure that sick leave has been recorded correctly.

Where medical advice recommends that you return to work after a period of long term sickness on reduced hours, your salary will be paid commensurate with the hours worked. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis.

On returning to work from an absence due to illness or injury, you may be asked to provide your manager with a certificate from your doctor stating you are fit to return to work. The Practice reserves the right to refer you to the Practice appointed doctor before allowing you to resume work. Failure to submit to a medical examination by a practitioner appointed by the Employer to Glasslyn Vets for the purpose of establishing your fitness to perform your obligations may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Disciplinary policy, up to and including dismissal.

Disciplinary Action Every employee has a responsibility to be available to attend for work as scheduled. In cases of ongoing regular and / or patterned sporadic absence from work, the Employer’s disciplinary policy may be invoked. Where an employee is on a disciplinary warning due to attendance, sick certificates for all absences for all absences from work will generally be required.