Attendance support meetings explained

Long term absence is any period of sickness absence lasting more than 4 weeks (28 calendar days).

If it is known that an absence will continue for 4 weeks or more, an attendance support meeting (ASM) can be arranged to offer the employee early support and to manage the absence in line with the maximising attendance policy. Should the absence continue, ASM’s are expected to take place every 4 weeks and you will be sent an alert via Oracle Fusion to remind you of this. Long term ASM’s provide the opportunity for you to:

• listen to the employee to understand the reason for their absence and any other underlying factors that may be contributing to the absence; 
• ensure all relevant supports have been discussed and offered to the employee such as supports from the Employee Assistance Programme;
• discuss any workplace adjustments that may assist a successful return to work, if appropriate, such as working pattern changes, phased return and so on;
• explain to employee they will be referred for a medical assessment via occupational health, again if appropriate;
• discuss the outcome of medical report from occupational health and any recommendations provided;
• follow the incapability procedures where a return to work is unforeseeable, no return date can be provided and all possible supports have been explored with the employee as per the maximising attendance policy.

You must update the employee’s Oracle Fusion absence record with the date and outcome(s) of the meeting.

If you do not maintain the absence record, your line manager will receive an escalation alert that notifies them that the initial alert has not been acted on.