{"id":191460,"date":"2024-04-29T23:17:43","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T22:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/?p=191460"},"modified":"2024-06-11T09:09:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T08:09:45","slug":"good-reasons-to-call-in-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick","title":{"rendered":"Reasons To Call In Sick"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'><\/div><p><strong>As advanced as technology and medicine are today for work and productivity, many common and rare illnesses can\u2019t always be avoided. It is not illegal to outright deny a person a sick day, however, there are multiple regulations and acts that you could violate if the person is genuinely ill.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what is the best way to respond? This article will go over believable and non-believable reasons for missed work days, as well as best practices to aid recovery or further investigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-684fc7bc78d92\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-684fc7bc78d92\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Legitimate_Reasons_For_Calling_In_Sick\" >Legitimate Reasons For Calling In Sick<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Personal_Illness\" >Personal Illness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Mental_Health_Day\" >Mental Health Day<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Family_Emergency\" >Family Emergency<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Medical_Appointments\" >Medical Appointments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Chronic_Conditions\" >Chronic Conditions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Injury\" >Injury<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Bereavement\" >Bereavement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Jury_DutyCourt_Summons\" >Jury Duty\/Court Summons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Religious_Holidays\" >Religious Holidays\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Urgent_Home_Repairs\" >Urgent Home Repairs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/good-reasons-to-call-in-sick\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legitimate_Reasons_For_Calling_In_Sick\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legitimate Reasons For Calling In Sick<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following is a list of reasons that are typically considered legitimate enough that they\u2019re not questioned, barring when it\u2019s done repeatedly or for an extended period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Personal_Illness\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personal Illness<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many personal illnesses that a person gets for short periods but are considered debilitating and\/or infectious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stomach Bugs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migraines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And more.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minor illnesses are common reasons for short-term absences. A study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that minor illnesses were the most common reason for short-term absences in the UK, accounting for 27.2% of all absences in 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Covid quarantine, despite being in the past, is still heavy on the minds of people. During that period, we learned many methods of reducing the chances of passing on illnesses to others &#8211; social distancing chief amongst them. Working whilst sick is called \u201cpresenteeism\u201d, and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that US employers had to pay billions of dollars annually due to the reduced productivity caused by preventable transmission. Whilst there are no direct comparisons for UK workers, presenteeism is still an issue. The lesson is &#8211; presenteeism is far more harmful than absenteeism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, an employer should opt to openly communicate when a person calls in sick. Acknowledge the sickness, and express empathy and understanding. Then ask if there\u2019s anything you can do to help cover their work, if applicable. Then, encourage recovery and log the sickness with the details provided. If their sick days exceed 7 days, you\u2019re entitled to ask for a doctor\u2019s note in the UK.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-191466 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Influenza Absence\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-191466 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Influenza Absence\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-2-min-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mental_Health_Day\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental Health Day<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In modern times, workplaces recognise mental health for what it is. Whilst many debilitating facets of mental health are unavoidable, such as stress and anxiety, when it gets to the point that it affects your daily life, the best way to recover is to rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some mental health issues that can serve as a valid excuse to miss work:\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stress &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is something that cumulates over time, and causes a decrease in focus, decision-making, and general performance. Stress is supposed to be released through leisure or other activities. When stress builds up to a certain point, it becomes a problem that can develop into a mental health issue known as \u201cChronic Stress\u201d. A 2023 survey by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that stress, depression, or anxiety encompass 51% of all work-related ill health cases in the UK.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Burnout &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burnout is a state of simply exerting so much energy and passion for an extended period into something that you become fatigued. Many people with burnout begin to view their work with disgust and cynicism, and tend to employ inefficacy. It\u2019s a lot like eating the same thing daily and not being allowed to diversify your palette, only the prolonged engagement of work hours turns the dissatisfaction into increasing levels of intolerance towards their role.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Anxiety &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety disorders are often confused with depression. However, they oppose each other in many ways. Anxiety is essentially worry, often associated with difficulty making decisions. The more anxious a person is, the less they\u2019re able to perform due to being held back by excessive thoughts. Constantly anxious people are also at increased risk of experiencing panic attacks, which can be life-changing experiences.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Depression &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whilst anxiety is characterised by worrying and obsessing, depression is a serious mood disorder that is essentially synonymous with losing your drive for life. Depressed people will experience consistent sadness, inability to be interested in anything, and severe fatigue. It is one of the leading causes of disability, and suicide, worldwide, and is considered exceptionally hard to treat.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best response is empathy. This is because <a href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/mental-health-workplace-post-lockdown\">mental health<\/a> issues are far more volatile than physical health issues, and prying could result in a worsening of their mood. Furthermore, the employees who manage the absentees will likely have already noticed signs, or have been told by the absentees themselves, of the mental health issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best policy is to accommodate. Offer support, make resources available to them, and when they come back, try reducing their workload and bringing it back up at a slow rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_Emergency\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family Emergency<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outside of work, employees have lives with unique circumstances. Sometimes, those circumstances lead to a family emergency that requires their full attention. Examples could be:\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sick Family Member &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a member of the family is sick and needs care, especially if that family member is a dependent like a sick child, then they have the right to take leave for a reasonable period under section 57A of the Employment Rights Act 1996.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family Emergencies &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family emergencies can be anything from illness, injury, natural disasters or even death. Even in cases where an employee\u2019s presence is not required, it can still take an emotional toll, not to mention distract them from their work. Furthermore, a pet emergency can also be considered a personal emergency, as even if we aren\u2019t biologically related, they&#8217;re still often considered to be part of the family.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unexpected Events &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Random, climactic events like a crash, an animal attack or anything else that momentarily threatens life or limb can cause significant immediate stress to an employee. The unprompted and high intensity of these events can take time to recover from. Allow them this time and space to recover.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, the best practice is empathy. Be a support network, as having existential threats to your livelihood as you know it is enough of an experience to possibly radically change someone\u2019s life, especially when you&#8217;re already dealing with a personal matter at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Medical_Appointments\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical Appointments<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical appointments are considered a necessary part of maintaining health and well-being. Many workplaces will allow an employee to go to a medical appointment, especially if an employee gives their employer advance notice and documentation. Examples of medical appointments can be: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Specialist Consultations &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people require regular checkups, such as people starting medication for depression or ADHD, and missing these checkups can have regressive results on their treatment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Medical Appointments &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a 2021 survey by the British Medical Association (BMA), the average waiting time for a GP appointment in the UK is 10.6 days. As a result, sometimes there\u2019s no choice but to book during work hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A medical appointment is usually not something that is given on short notice. A last-minute doctor\u2019s appointment is valid for something such as having a cracked tooth and experiencing severe pain, or for an emergency brought about by fears such as finding a lump in your testicle. In these situations, it\u2019s fair to ask them to bring in proof. But if the employee is otherwise well-behaved and trustworthy, we feel it\u2019s a better policy to simply mark it as a valid reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chronic_Conditions\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic Conditions<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A chronic condition is a physical or mental illness that a person consistently feels. Most employees will disclose these conditions in their application\/interview, and the workplace can create accommodations for them from there. Not all conditions come with official diagnoses from a doctor, as some can be very hard to measure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some conditions could be:\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Migraines &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Migraines are the third most common illness in the world, affecting around 1 in 7 people. That being said, not all migraines are equally debilitating. Some, such as cluster headaches, can come on randomly and be so severe that the person affected can audibly scream. Others can be less severe.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irritable Bowel Syndrome &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS is a disorder that affects the bowels, causing abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Crohn\u2019s Disease &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crohn\u2019s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract, causing many similar symptoms to IBS alongside weight loss and malnutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to respond to a call out of work due to chronic disease flaring up is by creating and abiding by a sick leave policy. Outline company expectations regarding absences due to chronic conditions, as well as requiring documentation outlining the diagnosis so adjustments can be made to the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Injury\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Injury<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Injuries can range from minor sprains to head injuries. HSE found that in 2021\/22 there were around 565,000 non-fatal workplace injuries in the UK &#8211; but that only encompasses the injuries <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">within<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the workplace. Plenty can occur outside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The impact of the injury will determine whether or not missing work is an option. A twisted ankle could result in a few days of rest and recovery, but a broken ankle could take weeks\/months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Response &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask about the injury, and how severe it is. Always come from a place of empathy. Then inquire about any immediate needs. If the <a href=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/preventing-workplace-injuries-small-businesses\">injury happened in the workplace<\/a>, ensure that you report and log it. Of course, ensure that if the injury is severe, that accommodations are made for their return. Many injuries will be verifiable just from seeing the employee when they next arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-191467 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Hospital Injury\" width=\"1200\" height=\"763\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-191467 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Hospital Injury\" width=\"1200\" height=\"763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-1024x651.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-1536x977.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sales-and-Marketing-3-min-2048x1303.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/noscript>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bereavement\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bereavement<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We feel like this doesn\u2019t warrant too much explaining. Losing a loved one is a deeply painful experience, and is not something that you can fake. Any number of intense emotions can be running in an employee\u2019s mind as a result, and it may be likely they\u2019ll feel like they can\u2019t return to work for the foreseeable future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s technically no right to statutory paid or unpaid time off, but we recommend that all employers give a set period for a person to leave and recover emotionally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Jury_DutyCourt_Summons\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jury Duty\/Court Summons<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to being called up for Jury Duty or being summoned by a court of law as a witness, defendant, plaintiff or accused, employers have to allow their employees the time off. This is the law, and all those summoned to court are protected from action taken against them due to their time in court unless it\u2019s proven they have committed a crime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Considering there is no health risk, both mental or physical, involved, you are well within reason to ask for proof, which they should be able to produce easily enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Religious_Holidays\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religious Holidays\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Equality Act of 2010 prohibits discrimination based on religion and belief, and declining time off for religious holidays is classed as exactly that. As a result, all employers are legally obliged to allow time off for these holidays. There can be exceptions, however, if the work is critical &#8211; such as within the healthcare system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend employers enquire about religious holidays ahead of time and work to prepare for them early. Have a clear and inclusive policy on religious observances, and ensure that you don\u2019t show a preference for one holiday over another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Urgent_Home_Repairs\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urgent Home Repairs<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve never experienced an existential threat to your home and safety through damage, then you\u2019re blessed. But certain breakdowns within the home must be dealt with immediately. For example:\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Burst Pipes &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A burst pipe can cause water damage within minutes. It requires the water to be turned off, and immediate repairing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gas Leaks &#8211; <\/b>Repair<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s are immediately necessary as gas leaks are a safety hazard that can damage the lungs on inhalation, or cause fires.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Electrical Issues &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faulty wiring, power outages and electrical fires can pose significant risks to occupants.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Security Breaches &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break-ins or attempted burglaries require reporting and conducting interviews with the police, assessing losses etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Natural Disasters &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Floods, fires, storms &#8211; all of these are likely to put entire neighbourhoods out of action for a while after they come through.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best policy, as always, is to allow the employee the time needed to properly secure their residence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, it\u2019s best to try and accommodate as often as you can. The key is differentiating between short notice and long-term notice. For long-term notice, the effects of absenteeism are lessened by the ability to prepare. But when short-term notices happen too often, employers are within their rights to flag and conduct an investigation as necessary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As advanced as technology and medicine are today for work and productivity, many common and rare illnesses can\u2019t always be avoided. It is not illegal to outright deny a person a sick day, however, there are multiple regulations and acts that you could violate if the person is genuinely ill.\u00a0 So what is the best [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26245,"featured_media":191465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9896],"tags":[10582,6647,12161,12185],"class_list":["post-191460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-and-wellbeing","tag-absence-management","tag-april","tag-p2024","tag-sick"],"views":655,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}